Richard Tarnas: The Value of Astrology

Tony Howard interviews Richard Tarnas at the Northwest Astrology Conference in 2011. We talk about Cosmos and Psyche, the progression of history, the value of astrology, and astrology's rightful place in cultural dialogue.
YouTube

Friday June 29

Not only is the Moon in Scorpio today, but the Sun's highlighting the powerful Uranus-Pluto square. As a midpoint picture we find; Sun = Uranus/Pluto. German astrologer Reinhold Ebertin has for 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."

If we can channel the energy in our environment today, we can move mountains. But maintaining peace of mind may be challenging.

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All 5 visible planets can be seen in late June early July:
EarthSky

First Week in July

The July 3 Full Moon is the first Full Moon after the summer solstice. Native people in the US called this the Buck Moon, Thunder Moon or Hay Moon. Earth reaches aphelion July 4/5, it's farthest point from the Sun- about 3 million miles farther from the Sun than 6 months from now.

Current Events

The Moon enters Scorpio today (Thursday) at 1:33 pm, PDT. So expect a relative level of emotional intensity until Saturday afternoon, when Luna moves into upbeat and enthusiastic Sagittarius.

There is healthy intensity and unhealthy intensity. If you believe in free will- choose wisely.

Enjoy.

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"I am little concerned with beauty or perfection. I don't care for the great centuries. All I care about is life, struggle, intensity." ~Emile Zola

Milky Way over Reunion Island

From Images 108

Sometimes, if you wait long enough for a clear and moonless night, the stars will come out with a vengeance. One such occasion occurred earlier this month at the Piton de l'Eau on Reunion Island. In the foreground, surrounded by bushes and trees, lies a water filled volcanic crater serenely reflecting starlight. A careful inspection near the image center will locate Piton des Neiges, the highest peak on the island, situated several kilometers away. In the background, high above the lake, shines the light of hundreds of stars, most of which are within 100 light years, right in our stellar neighborhood. Far is the distance, arching majestically overhead, is the central band of our home Milky Way Galaxy, shining by the light of millions of stars each located typically thousands of light years away. The astrophotographer reports waiting for nearly two years for the sky and clouds to be just right to get the above shot. (APOD)

Who Will Win, Obama or Romney?

By Michael WolfStar

NewsScope; June 4, 2012. Last week, USA Today noted that a panel of astrologers at the United Astrology Conference unanimously predicted that President Obama will win re-election in November. The astrologers used an array of different techniques to arrive at their predictions. They also warned that since Mercury is turning retrograde on Election Day, there may be some voting irregularities. Personally, I’m not convinced Obama will win.

Obama’s chart has some definite favorable developments leading up to the November 6 Election Day, but voters may blame him for the economy’s dire condition. Last Friday, Romney immediately blamed Obama for the dismal unemployment figures reported by the Labor Department. Romney’s Ascendant at 1º Gemini happens to be the exact location of the May 20 Lunar Eclipse: he is already benefitting from transiting Jupiter’s entrance into Gemini on June 10.
Read More-> NeptuneCafe

Astronomy for Astrologers

Sky Tour: June 22 – 28, 2012

Watch this video to locate Mercury, Mars & Saturn in the night sky and Jupiter & Venus in the morning sky during the week of June 22 – 28, 2012. Venus stations direct on June 27th so she is not moving very much this week.
Julene Packer

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StarIQ's dynamic duo talk a bit about the epic Uranus-Pluto square on Sunday and beyond: Planet Pulse June 24

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Friendly Plutonic punk astrologer Willow has posted a great blog on the June 25 Saturn station and the June 27 Venus station, etc...
Willow's Web Astrology

The 2012 Summer Solstice

Summer begins in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern, as the Sun enters the sign of Cancer the Crab. We have our longest days of the year here in the north, while the summer solstice marks the shortest day(s) south of the equator.

Throughout the world, the solstice portends a “turning” of the year. And in many cultures, the solstice represents a limit or a culmination of something. The Sun's now rising and setting as far north as it ever does. The June 20 solstice marks the northernmost Sun- and several days from now, the sun will have begun a subtle shift southward on the sky’s dome.

If you are interested in honoring and/or setting intentions at the Summer Solstice, it's 4:09 pm (PDT) today. Cheers!

Venus Transits the Midnight Sun

From Images 108

Today's solstice, the astronomical beginning of summer in the north, is at 23:09 UT when the Sun reaches the northernmost declination in its yearly trek through planet Earth's sky. While most in the northern hemisphere will experience the longest day of the year, for some the Sun won't set at all, still standing just above the horizon at midnight as far south as about 66.6 degrees northern latitude. Of course, as summer comes to the north the midnight Sun comes earlier to higher latitudes. Recorded near midnight, this time series from June 6 follows the Sun gliding above a mountainous horizon from a latitude of 69 degrees north. The remarkable scene looks north over the Norwegian Sea from Sortland, Norway. The 2012 transit of Venus is already in progress, with Earth's sister planet in silhouette at the upper left against the bright disk of the midnight Sun. (APOD)

Mondays Tweets

1. The July 3 Full Moon looks quite potent as the Moon conjoins Pluto and they are parallel, with Uranus squaring both.

2. Transiting Mars is coming out of it's shadow phase tomorrow shortly after the Gemini New Moon. Jan. 24 Mars stationed-retro at 23.05 Virgo.

3. "Any one who hears the rippling of rivers in these degenerate days will not utterly despair." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

4. The Cancer solar ingress (summer solstice) is intense: Sun/Moon = 7.33 Cancer = UR 8.20 Aries = PL 8.28 Capricorn = Mars/Saturn 8.12 Libra.

5. Everything in the past is a particle, and everything in the future is a wave. But looks like some epic waves on the horizon.

How Do Astrology and Magic Work?

Christopher Warnock of Renaissance Astrology discusses three traditional ways of explaining how astrology and astrological magic work: direct causality, the Unity of the Cosmos and magical/spiritual personalities.
YouTube

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Stellar Magic ~ A Practical Guide to Rites of the Moon, Planets, Stars and Constellations by Payam Nabarz: YouTube

Interview with Payam Nabarz Author of Stellar Magic

Todays Tweets

1. The epic alignment when 1st of 7 Uranus-90-Pluto occurs 6/24- heralding mass revolutionary challenges & changes, personally & collectively.

2. Why are the Beatles so popular 50 years on? BBC News story

3. CorporateMediaExposed.com

4. We just paid $3bil for these tv stations, we will tell you what the news is, the news is what we say it is. ~Steve Wilson, Fox News Florida

5. The 6 corporations that control US media today are Time Warner, Walt Disney, Viacom, RMurdoch's News Corp., CBS Corporation & NBC Universal.

Jupiter's Rings

From Images 108

Why does Jupiter have rings? Jupiter's rings were discovered in 1979 by the passing Voyager 1 spacecraft, but their origin was a mystery. Data from the Galileo spacecraft that orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003 later confirmed that these rings were created by meteoroid impacts on small nearby moons. As a small meteoroid strikes tiny Adrastea, for example, it will bore into the moon, vaporize, and explode dirt and dust off into a Jovian orbit. Pictured above is an eclipse of the Sun by Jupiter, as viewed from Galileo. Small dust particles high in Jupiter's atmosphere, as well as the dust particles that compose the rings, can be seen by reflected sunlight. (APOD)

Astrology & Astronomy in Ancient Mesopotamia

"Astrology is an occult practice that originated in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. The oldest records belong to the 2nd millennium BC and from the Old Babylonian period. However, Sumerians had some understanding of the subject as early as 3000 BC. The astrologers observed the movements of the planets and assigned them godlike features and powers. Each planet represented a god or a goddess and ruled certain areas of life. The astrologers advised the rulers/kings and interpreted the pattern of planetary movements as omens or signs for understanding the future. The practice is deeply rooted in the concept of Divination an important aspect of the Mesopotamian life. Divination was employed as a technique to communicate with gods, who according to the Mesopotamian religious thought, shaped the destinies of humans and controlled all events in the cosmos. Divination presupposes supernatural cause and effect in all perceived phenomena and assumes the cooperation of the gods in their willingness to reveal their future intentions. Observing the planets resulted in rudimentary scientific advances in astronomy and the practitioners of the prophetic aspects of astronomy became astrologers with great prestige and influence."
Read More-> Culture of Iran

June 19 Gemini New Moon

The June 19 New Moon in Gemini occurs 36 hours before the Summer Solstice (aka the Cancer ingress), and conjoins the red star Betelgeuse, and Polaris the North Star- both near the 29th degree of Gemini. Bernadette Brady says Betelguese = "success which is not blocked", and Polaris = "to show the way". In mundane astrology, Betelgeuse is linked with disasters of various kinds; the 9/11 Moon and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake-tsunami Moon conjoined this star.

"According to Ptolemy, Betelgeuse is of the nature of Mars and Mercury. With the Sun: Interest in and ability for occult and mystical subjects, acute diseases, fevers, honor and preferment ending in final ruin. With the Moon: Active mind, strong will, turbulent, rebellious under restraint, military success but suffering through quarrels with superiors, likelihood of great power, honor and wealth." (V.Robson's book on fixed stars & constellations)

The May 20 solar eclipse was at the first degree of Gemini, and the June 19 New Moon is on the last (29 Gemini). Jupiter entered Gemini June 11, while Venus transits Gemini until Aug. 7. Traditionally speaking, Jupiter's debilitated in the sign of the Twins, because a lack of mental focus and too many possibilities can result in scattered energy. But the capacity to think big, or a wealth of ideas has it's advantages- with practical application.

Mercury is just out of bounds as the New Moon in Gemini perfects. On a 90* degree dial we find, New Moon = Mercury/Node. The Mercury/Node midpoint signifies mental contacts, a meeting of minds; "the exchange of ideas, common or joint plans"(Ebertin). And Jupiter in Gemini will stimulate enthusiasm for learning and communication. Social networks will expand.

New Moons mark the start of a lunar cycle, and the best time to take the initiative in whatever area of life (house) the lunation falls. Enjoy...

A Few Interesting Links

1. Check out Planetary Hours for Choosing the Right Time!

The planetary hour system is an ancient technique based on a Chaldean order of the seven visible planets according to their speed, slowest to fastest: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon. This system has been neglected by many astrologers for quite a number of years, but is being revived as part of the rediscovery of ancient techniques through the efforts of Project Hindsight and Arhat. Those who use the planetary hours have observed that, indeed, the hours do seem to take on the character of the planets that rule them. Knowing this, it becomes obvious that if you can determine the planetary hours in advance, you have a very easy method of choosing the time most likely to be best for various activities. Find out more-> Astrolabe

2. Revolution and Revelation
The Uranus-Pluto Square- 2012-2015

"The Uranus-Pluto "geocentric square" begins in June 2012 and continues through March 2015, consisting of seven triggers (the exact squares occurring due to the planetary retrogrades). During this time, on November 24, 2013, the "synodic square" occurs. The synodic square is the actual (heliocentric) square occurring in the current 138-year Uranus-Pluto synodic cycle that began on January 7, 1966, at the exact peak of the Vietnam War and the emergence of the Flower Power Political Movement. This is the first (90°) square in this cycle." Read More-> Nick Anthony Fiorenza

3. Red dot becomes 'oldest cave art'

"Red dots, hand stencils and animal figures represent the oldest examples yet found of cave art in Europe.

The symbols on the walls at 11 Spanish locations, including the World Heritage sites of Altamira, El Castillo and Tito Bustillo have long been recognised for their antiquity.

But researchers have now used refined dating techniques to get a more accurate determination of their ages.

One motif- a faint red dot- is said to be more than 40,000 years old."
BBC News Science

4. Voyager I is Leaving Our Solar System

A Venus Transit Over the Baltic Sea

From Images 108

Waiting years and traveling kilometers- all to get a shot like this. And even with all of this planning, a good bit of luck was helpful. As the Sun rose over the Baltic Sea last Wednesday as seen from Fehmarn Island in northern Germany, photographer Jens Hackmann was ready for the very unusual black dot of Venus to appear superimposed. Less expected was the textures of clouds and haze that would taint different levels of the Sun various shades of red. And possibly the luckiest gift of all was a flicker of a rare green flash at the very top of the Sun. This image is one of many spectacular pictures taken last week of the last transit of the planet Venus across the face of the Sun for the next 105 years. (APOD)

Morning Star Venus

Tweeted 6/11~ Beginning Tues/Wed morning, Venus is visible rising just before the Sun (heliacal rise), as the goddess emerges from the underworld renewed.

"By June Venus disappears from view only to re-emerge a few weeks later as the Morning Star, growing bright until mid-August and early-September. As she emerges she will be sitting in the face of the Great Cosmic Bull- the stars of Taurus. This radiation of the Cosmic Bull implies that something will be destroyed or ruined but will then be re-cosmogised, reborn or remade afresh. The Assyrian priest Nergal-etir wrote that this implied a loss of the harvest while Bel-le'i added that if Venus is bright it will be worse, particularly if, 'Ishta wears a silver crown!' Translating this into a modern concept it could well mean yet again another crises in Europe over currency or another global stock market crisis- a harvest being destroyed in this period. This is a time when the heavenly patterns are indicating cosmogising- destroying to remake afresh." ~Visual Astrology Newsletter

Jupiter enters Mercury ruled Gemini today. And Mercury's now translating the light of the Uranus-Pluto square that's in effect for next 3 years, which reflects the process of building on the ruins of the old- transformation. The planetary picture Mercury = Uranus/Pluto, "An intense thought-activity, a restless mind, an indefatigable mental worker, creative activity, an inventive and resourceful person. The constant occupation with new things and plans." ~Pg. 199, The Combination of Stellar Influences by Reinhold Ebertin

In a sense, this midpoint picture is relevant to the entire transit of Jupiter through Gemini (6/11/12 - 6/25/13) as Mercury's lord of Gemini, and thus the 'dispositor' of Jupiter in Gemini.

Jupiter in Gemini

Today, Jupiter enters Gemini the Twins. As Jupiter spends roughly 12 years orbiting the Sun, it moves through each sign of the zodiac in about a years time. The Greater Benefic bestows faith, hope, optimism, enthusiasm, growth, expansion, and opportunities in the natal house it transits. Jupiter enters Cancer the Crab on June 25, 2013.

Interpretive Guidelines for Jupiter in Gemini according to Steven Arroyo:

"Seeks to grow and to improve oneself through communication, developing a wide range of skills, and broad learning.

Faith comes through immediate perception and verbalization of all connections; wide-ranging interests contribute meaning to life.

Optimism is sometimes hindered by changeable curiosity and excessive thinking and worrying.

Need to develop intelligence and reasoning power in order to experience trust in life; an urge to connect with a larger order that is rational and logical.

Has an innate understanding of the importance of good communication and a desire to benefit others by being a source of information." (Pg. 123, Exploring the Astrological Key to Jupiter Progress, Prosperity & Potential)

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3 other astrologers on Jupiter in Gemini:

"Fond of travel. Does well in the travel business or any occupation that involves selling, communication of ideas, teaching. ~Isabel Hickey

"Highly intelligent, varied talents, broad-minded, or crafty, diffuse and scattered interests, indiscreet." ~Jeff Mayo

"Versatility in obliging others, an aptitude for making social contacts...a love of change, the desire to have many connections. A carefree attitude towards life, superficiality." ~Reinhold Ebertin

Venus at the Edge

From Images 108

As its June 6 2012 transit begins Earth's sister planet crosses the edge of the Sun in this stunning view from the Hinode spacecraft. The timing of limb crossings during the rare transits was used historically to triangulate the distance to Venus and determine a value for the Earth-Sun distance called the astronomical unit. Still, modern space-based views like this one show the event against an evocative backdrop of the turbulent solar surface with prominences lofted above the Sun's edge by twisting magnetic fields. Remarkably, the thin ring of light seen surrounding the planet's dark silhouette is sunlight refracted by Venus' thick atmosphere. (APOD)

Big Bang Machine Affected by the Moon

TPMIdeaLab:

"The world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator is no match for the moon.

That’s the observation of one of the scientists working on it, Dr. Pauline Gagnon, a physics professor at the University of Indiana Bloomington, who recently posted a blog entry describing a spatial surprise she encountered last weekend while running one of the six major ongoing experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, a 17-mile-around underground accelerator located near Geneva, Switzerland, which has been nicknamed the “Big Bang machine,” because it is designed to simulate the conditions of the early universe.

As Gagnon recalled it, everything seemed to be going smoothly until the end of her shift, when another scientist called in to report unexpected fluctuations in the data coming from the planned collisions of two high-energy proton beams taking place in the accelerator.

Gagnon wrote in her post: So I called the LHC control room to find out what was happening. "Oh, those dips?", casually answered the operator on shift. "That’s because the moon is nearly full and I periodically have to adjust the proton beam orbits."

Here’s what was going on: The moon’s own gravitational field was pulling more strongly one side of the Large Hadron Collider, every-so slightly deforming the tunnel through which the proton beams pass.

The deformation also changed as the Moon rose and fell in the night sky. In order to keep the proton beams on track, the operator at the LHC’s control center had to subtly alter the direction of the proton beams to accomodate the Moon’s pull, “every hour or two,” Gagnon explained in an email to TPM.

As Gagnon wrote in her blog post: "Since the moon’s effect is very small, only large bodies like oceans feel its effect in the form of tides. But the LHC is such a sensitive apparatus, it can detect the minute deformations created by the small differences in the gravitational force across its diameter. The effect is of course largest when the moon is full."

The reason for the full moon having the most pronounced effect on the LHC is due to the fact that at that point in the lunar cycle, both the gravity of the Moon and the Sun are pulling on Earth, the same combined effect that causes dramatic sea tides.

Gagnon told TPM that the pull of the Moon could be enough to disrupt the LHC’s experiments, if it weren’t for the operators’ careful attention.

"It could be a concern if the operators did not know what to do," Gagnon said. "But clearly, they do since they kept these beams for 23 hours."

As Ganon further noted: “The effect was first observed 25 years ago,” in another, weaker particle accelerator, the LEP, which was decommissioned in 2000.

But, as Gagnon told TPM: "I do not recall seeing it so vividly on a graph before when I worked on LEP. Maybe I was never on shift when the moon was full!"

When Venus Rises Before the Sun

From Images 108

Image Credit: Emil Ivanov
This dramatic telephoto view across the Black Sea on June 6 finds Venus rising with the Sun, the planet in silhouette against a ruddy and ragged solar disk. Of course, the reddened light is due to scattering in planet Earth's atmosphere and the rare transit of Venus didn't influence the strangely shaped and distorted Sun. In fact, seeing the Sun in the shape of an Etruscan Vase is relatively common, especially compared to Venus transits. At sunset and sunrise, the effects of atmospheric refraction enhanced by long, low, sight lines and strong atmospheric temperature gradients produce the visual distortions and mirages. That situation is often favored by a sea horizon. (APOD)

Stellar Insights ~ June 2012

The June 19 New Moon in Gemini falls about 36 hours before the Summer Solstice (aka Cancer ingress), and conjoins the red star Betelgeuse, and Polaris the North Star- both located near the 29th degree of Gemini. Bernadette Brady says Betelguese = "success which is not blocked", and Polaris = "to show the way". In mundane astrology, Betelgeuse is linked with disasters of various kinds; the 9/11 Moon and the 2004 Boxing Day earthquake-tsunami Moon were conjunct this star.

"According to Ptolemy, Betelgeuse is of the nature of Mars and Mercury. With Sun: Interest in and ability for occult and mystical subjects, acute diseases, fevers, honor and preferment ending in final ruin. With Moon: Active mind, strong will, turbulent, rebellious under restraint, military success but suffering through quarrels with superiors, likelihood of great power, honor and wealth." (V.Robson's book on fixed stars & constellations)

The May 20 solar eclipse was at 0 Gemini, and the June 19 New Moon is 29 Gemini. Jupiter enters Gemini on June 11, while Venus transits Gemini until Aug. 7. Jupiter is in it's detriment in the sign of the Twins, because a lack of mental focus and too many possibilities often results in scattered energy. But the capacity to think big, or a wealth of ideas has it's advantages- with practical application.

Mercury is just out of bounds as the New Moon in Gemini perfects. And if we put this lunation on a 90* degree dial it shows New Moon = Mercury/Node. The Mercury/Node midpoint signifies mental contacts, a meeting of minds; "the exchange of ideas, common or joint plans"(Ebertin). And perhaps Jupiter in Gemini will bring a new-found enthusiasm to learning and communication.

New Moons mark the start of a lunar cycle, and for the next two weeks you have the wind at your back, so to speak.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the Uranus-Pluto squares in effect for the next 3 years. These planets have not lined up since 1965-66, and have not been in square since the early 1930's. The 3 Uranus-Pluto conjunctions in the mid 60's at 16-17 Virgo, was the planetary alignment that archetypally informed that tumultuous decade. And now we have reached the first crisis phase- the waxing square, of this 128 year cycle.
(The epic Venus Transit of June 5-6 was at 16 Gemini in exact square to 16 Virgo.)

In fact, Uranus and Pluto were already in square by sign and orb at the Full Moon of Sept. 15, 2008, that coincided exactly with Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy, and a period of extreme volatility for an already distressed financial market. What followed was a “perfect storm” of economic distress factors and eventually a $700bn bailout package (Troubled Asset Relief Program) prepared by Henry Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury, and approved by Congress. The Dow eventually closed at a new six-year low of 7,552.29 on November 20, with a further drop to 6626 by March of 2009.

But now we have the first of seven exact Uranus-Pluto squares on June 24, 2012. The current economic indicators are weak at best with the Euro in crisis, and the US continuing to accrue unsustainable debt- still refusing to acknowledge the systemic changes that need to occur, or implement financial regulations in order prevent further collapse by fraud and irresponsible speculation. The system is broke, but the plutocracy is in denial and therefore crisis seems inevitable. I project 2014 to be a pivotal year for the US, wherein the empire will be most subject to Uranus square Pluto.

Ideally, Uranus-Pluto relates to the process of building on the ruins of the old, and massive awakenings- but given the collective level of consciousness, revolutionary upheaval or overthrow (i.e. Arab Spring, OccupyWallStreet, etc.) may be required to initiate such an evolutionary process...breakdown and breakthrough. Revolution and evolution.

The Fukushima disaster is still ongoing, and the two planets most related to nuclear energy and it's development are Uranus (uranium; cutting edge science & technology; sudden shocks, etc.) and Pluto (plutonium; extreme, profound crisis-like change; the process of revealing something hidden...in the atom itself; power and it's consequences, etc.). Another major earthquake in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and we're all cooked- if we are not already. But at least a wake-up call regarding the dangers of nuclear power has been issued by mother nature, if we would only listen. Alternative is the way to go. The 1965-66 Uranus-Pluto conjunctions were in the earth sign of Virgo when ecology was born.
U.N. report warns environment at a tipping point

On June 25, Saturn will station direct on the Aries point (16th harmonic), ending its long and difficult retrograde period. The station-direct is like a sick person that is just starting to get well, but still weak. It's finally time to begin implementing our long-term strategies and plans, structures and disciplines. As Saturn (Chronos) is the personification time, we learn best through experience that patience and hard work are required to succeed in achieving goals.

Venus Transit 2012

From Images 108

Occurring in pairs separated by over a hundred years, there have now been only eight transits of Venus since the invention of the telescope in 1608. The next will be in December of 2117. But many modern telescopes and cameras were trained on this week's Venus transit, capturing the planet in rare silhouette against the Sun. In this sharp telescopic view from Georgia, USA, a narrowband H-alpha filter was used to show the round planetary disk against a mottled solar surface with dark filaments, sunspots, and prominences. The transit itself lasted for 6 hours and 40 minutes. Historically, astronomers used timings of the transit from different locations to triangulate the distance to Venus, while modern astronomers actively search for planets that transit distant suns. (APOD)

Basquiat's 'Untitled' Expected to Break Records at Auction

From The Huffington Post:
"In the last month we have seen Edvard Munch go for $120 million, Mark Rothko sell at $87 million and Roy Lichtenstein auction off at $44.9 million. Now one of Jean-Michel Basquiat's untitled pieces from 1981 is on the chopping block and already stirring up rumors of record prices. Scheduled for auction on June 27th at Christie's in London, "Untitled" is sitting pretty at a $20 million estimated price. This is nearly four million higher than Basquiat's previous record, which was achieved last May in New York."
Read More

The planet Venus of art and beauty is no longer out of bounds by declination (measured north and south of the equator), but Mercury is. May's record sales for Munch, Rothko, and Lichtenstein, occurred with Venus OOB, out of bounds. As Venus is transiting Mercury ruled Gemini, the condition of Mercury now determines how Venus finds expression. And Mercury is OOB until the June 19 New Moon. Therefore, all things related to Venus are still somewhat prone to extremes- and when stationary-direct June 27, Venus will 'on' the Aries point(by 16th harmonic) and have a greater impact on world events.

Eclipsed Moon over Wyoming

From Images 108

A setting full moon rarely looks like this. Monday morning just before a fully lit Strawberry Moon dropped behind the Absaroka Mountain Range near Cody, Wyoming, USA, the shadow of the Earth got in the way. A similarly setting partial lunar eclipse was visible throughout most of North and South America, while simultaneously the same partially darkened moon was visible throughout eastern Asia. Pictured in the foreground is a snowbank formation known as the Horse's Head off a tributary of the Shoshone River. Lunar eclipses occur about twice a year, and the next one -- a penumbral eclipse -- will occur in late November. (APOD)

Live Coverage of Venus Transit

NASA EDGE @ Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Venus Transit LIVE

Live from Keck Observatory

Enjoy!

The Transit of Venus - Kathy Watts

"When you stargaze in the daytime, you can see only one star — the Sun. On June 5, 2012, though, you can see something extra special. You can watch the planet Venus move between the Earth and the Sun as it drifts right across the face of our star.

Transits of Venus only happen when the orbits of the Earth and Venus are lined up exactly right. The orbit of Venus has to cross the ecliptic (the Sun’s path in the sky) and Venus must be exactly between the Sun and Earth (astronomers call this an inferior conjunction) at exactly the same time.

Since the disk of Venus is only 1/30th the size of the disk of the Sun, the planet doesn’t cover much. It looks like a large perfectly round sunspot drifting from one side of the Sun to the other. Basically, Venus is creating an annular eclipse of the Sun. It’s still exciting to actually see it happen.

These transits occur very rarely. Two transits will happen within eight years, then the next two transits won’t happen for another 100-plus years. After this 2012 transit, it won’t happen again until December 11, 2117."
Read More

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Venus Transit 2012 – Mayan Vedic Nakshatras and More

Meaning of a Rare Venus Transit

By Michael Erlewine

"The transit of Venus across the face of the Sun is one of the rarest astronomical events. This coming transit of Venus will take place on June 5-6, 2012 toward sundown, and is the last event of its kind this entire century. The next will take place in December of 2117. Why are Venus and this event so special? The secret to understanding the meaning of Venus transiting the solar sphere is to be found in the planet Earth and the effect of Venus on us. It is we, here on Earth, who see this happening, not the other planets. Because this event is so rare, astrologers have not had that much experience interpreting this, so please bear with me."
Read More

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~Ancient Stellar Magic at ConVocation 2011 (Part 2)

Clifford Hartleigh Low's lecture on "Ancient Stellar Magic and the Rings of Power" at ConVocation 2011, part two. This lecture covers Traditional Astrology, Stellar Omens, Zoroastrianism, the Liber Hermetis, the Behenian Fixed Stars, Talismans, Magical Rings and Crowns, Predestination, Symmetrical Divinatory Systems, Astral Light, Servitors, Stellar Hierarchies, Petitions, and much much more... YouTube

The Blog of Clifford Hartleigh Low

Passenger plane crashes in Lagos

From BBC News:
"A passenger plane has crashed into a building in Nigeria's main city of Lagos, officials say. Witnesses told Reuters news agency they saw the Dana Air plane strike the two-storey building and burst into flames.

At least 162 people were thought to be on board, but the head of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said he doubted any could have survived. The crash took place in a neighbourhood just outside the airport in overcast weather, reports said." Read More

The current t-square between the Moon's Nodes (fateful events involving groups) and Neptune (chaos & confusion) forms a grand cross with the lunar eclipse Ascendant (4 Virgo) in Lagos, Nigeria.

From Mundane Charts

Eclipses are not always bad, but sometimes they are. The Neptune-Node t-square is problematic and tightening in orb. So wherever it may be focused or prominent, we might expect chaotic confusion or foggy uncertainty- whatever form that may take. In this case, the overcast weather conditions and ensuing chaos after the crash, fit the symbolism of Neptune amplified by the Moon's Nodes.

RIP Diana

Astrologer Diana K. Rosenberg has passed after a long illness. She was considered the world's number one authority on the fixed stars and their meaning in natal and mundane astrology. I had the pleasure of spending some time with her at the 2008 United Astrology Conference (UAC). Diana's profound knowledge of the stars will continue to enrich all students of the sacred art.
Diana's Fixed Stars

Stunning Venus Transit

From Images 108

The rare transit of Venus across the face of the Sun in 2004 was one of the better-photographed events in sky history. Both scientific and artistic images flooded in from the areas that could see the transit: Europe and much of Asia, Africa, and North America. Scientifically, solar photographers confirmed that the black drop effect is really better related to the viewing clarity of the camera or telescope than the atmosphere of Venus. Artistically, images might be divided into several categories. One type captures the transit in front of a highly detailed Sun. Another category captures a double coincidence such as both Venus and an airplane simultaneously silhouetted, or Venus and the International Space Station in low Earth orbit. A third image type involves a fortuitous arrangement of interesting looking clouds, as shown by example in the above image taken from North Carolina, USA. Sky enthusiasts worldwide are abuzz about the coming transit of Venus on Tuesday. It is perhaps interesting to wonder whether any person will live to see -- and remember seeing -- both Tuesday's Venus transit and the next one in 2117. (APOD)
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David Tresemer, author of the book "Venus Eclipse of the Sun 2012", explains the dynamics of this once in a lifetime event and how and why the energy of this eclipse can be used to empower personal and global visions. The Venus Eclipse of the Sun 2012, also known as the Venus Transit 2012, is occurring June 5-6.
Venus Eclipse of the Sun 2012: Your Passionate Vision
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Venus is the Goddess of Love and Beauty. She represents what we desire and enjoy in life. Venus is in retrograde in Gemini - which means there is a more introspective reflection and inward journey. It is a good time to let go and find closure and completion. In this video Divine Harmony explains what it can mean for you and your life.
Divine Harmony - YouTube
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In this video, astrologer John Wadsworth discusses the astronomical and astrological significance of this year's Venus transit - and the extraordinary symmetry and harmony of the eight-year cycle of Venus-Sun conjunctions.
The Venus Transit - 5th/6th June 2012

Watch the Venus Transit Live

"One of the rarest astronomical phenomena, a transit of Venus, will occur on the evening of Tuesday, June 5. Similar to a solar eclipse, Venus will move across the face of the sun and block light from the sun to Earth. The planet's transit will take about six and a half hours to travel across the face of the sun.

This is your last chance to see a Venus transit until 2117, so make plans to watch this rare and beautiful event."
More info-> NASA - Web Chats

The Whirlpool Galaxy

From Images 108

Follow the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper's bowl until you get to the handle's last bright star. Then, just slide your telescope a little south and west and you might find this stunning pair of interacting galaxies, the 51st entry in Charles Messier famous catalog. Perhaps the original spiral nebula, the large galaxy with well defined spiral structure is also cataloged as NGC 5194. Its spiral arms and dust lanes clearly sweep in front of its companion galaxy (top), NGC 5195. The pair are about 31 million light-years distant and officially lie within the angular boundaries of the small constellation Canes Venatici. Though M51 looks faint and fuzzy to the human eye, deep images like this one can reveal the faint tidal debris around the smaller galaxy. (APOD)

June 4th's Partial Eclipse of the Moon

The astronomy of Monday's lunar eclipse from Sky & Telescope:

Watch the full Moon become partly engulfed by Earth's shadow during a partial lunar eclipse on June 4th.

From Images 108

Earth’s round shadow will extend 38% of the way across the Moon at maximum eclipse on June 4, 2012, fairly similar to how the Moon looked when Dennis di Cicco shot this image during the eclipse of February 20–21, 2008. He overexposed the Moon’s sunlit part to bring out the ruddy color of Earth’s umbra.

"On the morning of Monday, June 4, 2012 — the day before the transit of Venus (by pure coincidence) — skywatchers in much of the Americas, the Pacific, Australia, and East Asia will witness some very different blackout action, as the full Moon undergoes a partial eclipse.

The celestial southeastern rim of the Moon first touches the umbra (dark central part) of Earth’s shadow at 10:00 Universal Time. That’s 6:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 5:00 CDT, 4:00 MDT, and 3:00 PDT.

By that time the Moon has already set and the Sun risen for the northeastern U.S. and Canada; people there miss out. If you're west of a line from North Carolina through Ohio, you get to see at least the eclipse’s beginning as the Moon is about to set and the Sun is about to rise. Here's a world map and eclipse diagram showing who gets to see what.

The partial eclipse is deepest, with the umbra intruding 38% of the way across the Moon from the south, more than an hour later, at 11:03 UT. By then you’ll need to be west of a line from Louisiana through North Dakota.

The partial eclipse ends at 12:07 UT. Far Westerners see the whole event high in a dark sky before dawn gets under way.

The penumbra (pale outer fringe) of Earth’s shadow should be visible on the Moon as much as 45 minutes before the partial phase starts and after it ends."

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What's the best way to view the June 5-6 transit of Venus safely?

Heads Up! The Writer's Astrological Almanac

by Kathy Watts ~ June 2012

Spring is turning into Summer! We start June on Friday (the day of the week for Venus) with the Moon entering the sign of Scorpio. Take people seriously, especially friends and loved ones, this month. Work on relationships, and then let them help you. Midday, Mercury conjuncts Venus retrograde at 17Gem. Let your words (written, spoken or even just thought) come from the heart.

Sun Jun 03 the Moon is in Sagittarius when Mercury forms a trine to Saturn. Despite the Sagittarius optimism, it's still a good day for serious thoughts. Also, it's the day before the Full Moon, which will be an eclipse. Let's give this a Heads Up. Consider what you want to share with the world.

Mon Jun 04 we get the Full Moon at 14Sag. This may be the month to be big minded and big hearted. Later in the day, Neptune goes stationary retrograde at 03Pis. Enjoy a touch more reality and a touch less fantasy. Neptune stays retrograde until midNovember and almost makes it out of Pisces, but not quite. For the next five months, write long emotional tirades, then hide or burn them.

Tue Jun 05 the Moon is in Capricorn when the Venus conjuncts the Sun. In fact, Venus transits across the face of the Sun. This won't happen again until 2111, and it's a momentous sight. (Call me silly, but I think astrology is all the more powerful when you actually see what and where the planets are. Consider checking out the live webcam for this, from the Mauna Kea Observatory.) Love and beauty may seem scarce, but they can be all the more intense if you put them into your work. Later, the Moon conjuncts (and occults) Pluto, not that this is exactly visible. It's a day of direct hits, but take none of it personally. Heads Up anyway.

Wed Jun 06 the Moon is in Capricorn all day. You can enjoy your work, and do a lot of it today.

Thu Jun 07 the Moon is void of course in Capricorn when Mercury changes signs and moves into Cancer. Thoughts change to home, hearth, and maybe too many snack foods.

Fri Jun 08 the Moon is in Aquarius all day. This can be good for socializing and networking. In the evening, Mercury makes a trine with Neptune. Find kindred spirits first, then say everything in your head.

Sat Jun 09 the Moon conjuncts Neptune in the evening. Remember your dreams and perhaps incorporate some of those memories into prose or poetry.

Mon Jun 11 the Moon is void of course in Pisces when Jupiter changes signs, leaving Taurus to enter Gemini. Expect to have a lot to say for the next year. Take copious notes. Start a journal, or a podcast. Others will also have a lot to say, so be prepared to listen.

Tue Jun 12 the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Aries. This being the day of the week for Mars, look for high energy and motivation to face challenges. Let your characters get into mischief, though, and personally avoid the fray if you can.

Wed Jun 13 the Moon is in Aries all day. This might be a good day to focus on yourself and your own stuff. It's not as selfish as it sounds, given that today we also get a Sun-Saturn trine to keep us respectable and honest. You're permitted be serious about your own stuff sometimes. Make it good.

Sat Jun 16 the Moon enters Gemini late in the evening. We have from now until Tuesday morning to make the most of the writer's life and mindset. Set a word count, and/or check off that list of emails and phone calls to return. You can be sublimely in touch with people during this period.

Sun Jun 17 in the very early hours, the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in early Gemini. (The Moon occults Jupiter, actually, so it might be worth going out to see this, weather permitting). Be generous to others, and ambitious towards your own goals. Do as much as you can while you can; the Moon moves fast. That afternoon, the Moon conjuncts Venus retrograde. Pause for a moment and pay attention to how you feel about people. Your characters will benefit from this sort of introspection.

Mon Jun 18 the Moon is in Gemini all day. Heads Up anyway, because tomorrow is the New Moon. Don't behave rashly with so much Gemini energy in the air. Think safe and don't let people distract or disorganize you.

Tue Jun 19 we have the New Moon at 28Gem. (The New Moon in May was also in Gemini, if you recall.) The final degrees of a sign can be the most intense, so consider using this New Moon for some intense progress in your work. The Moon will be void of course for two and half hours before entering Cancer. Today is also the last day this year with the Sun in the sign of Gemini. Tomorrow the world may seem a bit less hurried, wired, and a bit more emotional. Heads Up.

Wed Jun 20 the Moon is in Cancer all day long. In late afternoon, the Sun changes signs and leaves Gemini to enter Cancer. With both the Sun and Moon in Cancer (which is ruled by the Moon), be happy that it's a mercurial Wednesday. Even if you never leave the house today, you can still get a lot of writing done. It's also the summer solstice, the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere. Cast yourself an ingress chart for a peek at what the next three months may be like for you.

Thu Jun 21 the Moon conjuncts Mercury in Cancer, then goes void of course until the evening when the Moon enters Leo. Domestic or patriotic themes may be appealing today. They're always appropriate and interesting to readers. Jane Austin and Tom Clancy have this going for them, and look at their popularity.

Mon Jun 25 the Moon is in Virgo all day. Concentrate on the little stuff and watch it vanish. Saturn goes stationary direct at 22 Lib very early in the day. You might be able to resolve a real-life conflict, or a plot complication. That night, Mercury changes signs and enters fiery glamorous Leo. Think fun and glitz.

Tue Jun 26 The Moon conjuncts Mars in Virgo, then goes void of course. Don't get impatient or bored. Write a foul argument between two characters, then set it aside, or maybe just delete it. Venting is where you find it.

Wed Jun 27 the Moon is in Libra all day. Work on something pleasant. Today is also the end of the Venus retrograde, as in the morning Venus goes stationary direct at 07 Gem. Look forward to pleasant progressive socializing and artistic achievements as Venus sashays forward through Gemini.

Thu Jun 28 the Moon conjuncts Saturn and goes void of course until entering Scorpio twelve hours later. This is the day of the week for Jupiter, though, so don't feel grim. Feel competent and responsible.

June may seem to have a subdued quality, starting and ending with so much Saturn and Scorpio, but this is the month when the Sun shines the highest in the sky and does so as a guest in the house of playful Mercury (when the Sun is still in Gemini) and later in the house of the bright sensitive Moon (when the Sun moves into Cancer). Enjoy the lush growing world, and add your own creations to the mix of beauty and newness. When so many people are facing upcoming vacations or the end of a school year, we get to dig in deeper and produce fantastic works of art that ring and sparkle with sunshine, and moonlight. Reach out to others, let them reach in to you, and advance! Heads Up!

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