November 8th 2003
Bettye Cates
Back in 1998, Astrologer Johnny Mirehiel was scanning the future patterns of the planets with his astrological software in search of a formation called the “Mystic Rectangle,” and was stunned to see the image of the Star of David come together during the Total Lunar Eclipse of November 8, 2003. The Star of David is a six-pointed star known in astrology as a Grand Sextile, signifying an easy flow of energy between the planets involved, and is made up of two interlocking Grand Trines, each indicating a special blessing or a gift. While this pattern is not unheard of in astrology, there are several points that make this specific occurrence quite unique, as Mirehiel was unable to find a duplicate of it within the 6,000-year span from two thousand years before the birth of Christ, to two thousand years forward from today.
One key factor is that all the planets involved in the Grand Sextile represent masculine energy except one, the moon, yet all of the signs in which they fall are representative of feminine energy, thus suggesting that a balancing of masculine and feminine energies that is necessary to produce the effect of a planetary shift in consciousness. Also of note, all the planets involved in the downward pointing Grand Trine, representing Divinity descending towards man, fall in the Water signs which typically speak of the world of emotions, feelings, and spirituality, while the upward Grand Trine, symbolic of Man’s reaching toward God, springs from the Earth signs, signifying not only the Earth itself, but all of Her inhabitants, as well as the physical, material world in which we live. Another consideration is that only the inner, or personal planets, are directly involved in this configuration while the outer, generational planets, are conspicuous in their absence, highlighting the importance of uncompelled, personal choice in seizing the moment.
Additionally, the chart is highlighted by what astrologer Bernadette Brady, whose work on eclipses is widely acknowledged in the astrological community, sees as the “best” eclipse in the Saros Series 5 New South, of which she writes, “This is a very joyful, happy family of eclipses. There is as sense of good news, falling in love, a peak experience that is joyful in some way…”
Yet a crucial issue making this event so unique is that one of the planets necessary to complete the Grand Sextile was unknown to man until 1977, giving it special relevance to the Hebrew prophecies, hailing the arrival of their Messiah and Redeemer. While the archetype of Chiron pre-dates Christ, both were teachers and healers, both went through a very painful experience of suffering, death, and resurrection, followed by an ascent into heaven. Thus Chiron, also known as “The Wounded Healer,” becomes the perfect symbol representing the return of Christ to save mankind from himself.
Each planet in the Star of David finds its energies colored by the nature of the sign in which it is found.
The Sun, representing our will, is completely authentic in its quest for total transformation and rebirth when influenced by the intense evolutionary nature of Scorpio, the sign of conflict, crisis, life and death. It forces us to face the hard issues, expose corruption, dishonesty and hidden agendas, cutting away anything not serving our highest truth. While this is no picnic, it tests and develops our inner spiritual strength by making us face our fears, and release whatever is not working for us.
On the other side of the zodiac, the Moon, representing our sensitive emotional nature, dressed in earthy, sensual Taurus, reminds us to comfort ourselves with the beauty and pleasures of the earth, while aligning our values with what we really want out of life, releasing any attachments, self-indulgences, and excessive materialism that might steal our peace. It is also a wake-up call to reach for our real values, and to live them like it matters…with significant attention to the issue of self-respect.
Naturally aggressive Mars has been transformed into a passionate Spiritual warrior, taking action with kindness and compassion under the influence of intuitive Pisces, while learning the difference between passion and aggression, and applying his warrior spirit to the issues of truth and lies. Now that he has broken free from the shadow of his retrograde (a process begun back on July 30, 2003), we can finally move forward in the area of our lives governed by 00° to 10° of Pisces, if we can only learn to act from a place of inner peace.
As Saturn gives us the substance to manifest our dreams, we must first learn to play by his rules in developing patience, perseverance, and discipline, while compassionate Cancer reminds us that self-nurturing and kindness to the Earth and all her inhabitants are included in those rules. The last time Saturn was in Cancer, there was an enormous burst of social consciousness as the environmental movement inspired major conservation efforts in the development of solar power, and alternative energy sources. Additionally, Saturn in Cancer opposing Chiron in Capricorn is reminding us to pay attention to the ways in which the political is distinctly personal. Every law that is passed eventually finds its way to your living room and your mind.”
As Jupiter represents our sense of optimism, generosity, enthusiasm, and our search for wisdom and good fortune. In Virgo, he asks us to be discriminating in making choices that support our goals and life’s purpose. Virgo is about reasoning, discernment and intelligence. Jupiter in this sign tells us to question reality, and apply critical thinking to religious dogma.
Finally, Chiron symbolizes the inner power camouflaged by our human wounds, which must be discovered before we can make a conscious connection between our earthly being and our higher soul-self. In practical Capricorn, Chiron asks us to look within our own hearts to find that we are already living the on our destiny path, and all is as it should be. On an outward level, we’ve uncovered everything from sexual abuse in churches, to Enron, Worldcom and many other corporate scandals since Chiron moved into Capricorn in December of 2001. Chiron in Capricorn compels us to be aware of these issues, bring the darkness into the light, and own up to our part in the game.
One key planet not included in this cosmic Star of David is revolutionary Uranus, as it finally begins moving forward at 28° Aquarius, in its most powerful position in its whole 84-year cycle. No one will be able to escape the evolutionary winds of change, and the signs read either breakthrough or breakdown, depending on one’s approach to life and view of reality. Uranus, the planet of disruption, in the sign of Aquariusis set to wake up even those people who specialize in denial and resistance to change.
Instead of fighting the inevitable, we would be far better off looking forward with excitement to the unexplored possibilities being offered to us as a chance to take a leap of faith, leaving behind our fear, that we might ultimately uncover the deepest passions that can animate our very lives. Quite appropriately, the Sabian symbol for this degree of Aquarius is, “A butterfly emerges from a chrysalis,” pointing to the spiritual transformation we can expect if we choose to go with the flow of these energies.
This brings me to another topic I wanted to discuss in relation to the Harmonic Concordance chart, since Johnny Mirehiel made special note of the Ascensional character of the Sabian Symbols associated with the exact degrees the planets occupy. These symbols are psychically derived images, delivered by Elsie Wheeler, describing the nature of each of the 360 degrees of the astrological wheel. They were first published in 1931 in a book called, Symbolic Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones. Over the years, the symbols have gained credibility as others began working with, and assigning commentary to them.
The Sun, representing our basic will and vitality that inspires life, falls at 16° Scorpio; “A woman, filled with her own spirit, is the father of her own child,” Here, the Sun is calling for total reliance upon the dictates of the God-within.
Jupiter, representing wisdom, generosity, optimism, and increase, falls at 14° Virgo, “A fine lace ornamental handkerchief, an heirloom from valorous ancestors,” suggesting reward for deeds well done.
Saturn, representing discipline, stability, and perseverance, falls at 13° Cancer, “A very old man facing a vast dark space to the Northeast” speaks of transcendent and changeless wisdom.
The Moon, representing our emotions, imagination, and the subconscious, falls at 16° Taurus, “A symbolic battle between swords and torches” or “Refusing to return to the past, the seeker turns warrior, fighting anew the eternal ‘Great War,” or the battle of “Might” versus “Light.”
Mars, representing passion, drive, energy and desire, falls at 10° Pisces, “Men traveling a narrow path, seeking illumination,” asking all to seek, at whatever cost, entrance to a higher transcendent realm of reality.
Chiron, the wounded healer, falls at 14° Capricorn, “In a hospital, the children’s ward is full of toys” demonstrating that, in times of healing, there is a need for simple pleasures to raise the spirit, and nurturing of those disadvantaged, younger in years, or the lesser evolved.
While this does not cover all the points in the chart, it’s interesting to note just how closely the symbolism of each degree fits the meaning of the planets residing there, as well as the overall message, importance, and “instructions” of the Harmonic Concordance as a whole.
Continuing on, this discussion would not be complete without including some word about the squares, oppositions and even the “Mystic Rectangles” that started this whole ball rolling in the first place. Astrologer Jim Buss explains all of this in detail in his article about “Squares and Oppositions,” but as a brief overview, he tells that while Trines and Sextiles hold the potential of great blessings, they need the energetic “kick in the pants” of a square or, to a lesser extent, an opposition or conjunction to activate them.
While there are 5 power squares between dynamically compatible planets in the chart, we can also find 3 Mystic Rectangles tucked away inside that astrological Star of David. The energies represented in the oppositions illuminate the unity of Desire (Mars) and Vulnerability (Jupiter) in one aspect, Identity (Saturn) and Healing (Chiron) in the second, and Intention (Sun) and Emotion (Moon) in the third. From there, we can extend the combinations of meaning out into each of the Mystic Rectangles, or continue the analysis on to include all six aspects in the Grand Sextile of a unifying expression of desire, vulnerability, identity, healing, intention, and emotion.
To make things even more exciting, each of the oppositions are blessed with a T-Square of one or more planets at the halfway points, adding the creative tension to risk moving beyond fear into new arenas of experience. It is Neptune that T-Squares the eclipse itself, giving us the opportunity to learn how to integrate Spirit (Neptune) with Intention (Sun) and Emotion (Moon). It’s Pallas Athena that T-Squares Saturn-Chiron, providing the opportunity to Integrate Boundaries (Pallas) with Identity (Saturn) and Healing (Chiron) by exploring how the role of protection has changed.
Last, but not least, the masculine energy of Mars opposing the Vulnerability and Expansiveness of Jupiter is T-Squared by the Restless and transformative power of Pluto, Ixion, representing the thinning of the veil, the femininity of Venus, and the Sacred in Vesta, these last three of which have become fondly known on the Harmonic Concordance e-group as “The Goddess Party.”
Buss says that with such profound changes in our realities ahead, and the inevitability of the corresponding evolution in our relationships, that he considers this to be the signal for the final end of the patriarchy. He adds that the Venus-Mars square involved in this third T-Square is waning, or separating, implying an opportunity to release old ideas to make space for new ones. Ultimately, though, we can expect to see changes in our relationships with one another, as well as with the male and female aspects within each of us, and in how we act to dynamically to create what we want in life.
Buss mentions one other T-Square that’s not involved in the Grand Sextile – Mercury opposite the Moon’s North Node, with Uranus squaring them both. Here we unify the Mind (Mercury) and Mission (North Node), while receiving the opportunity to explore inspiration (Uranus), an aspect that only takes on greater importance by NOT being included in the Grand configuration.
As a lunar eclipse brings light into the darkness, it often takes up to 18 months to unfold, and this Lunar Eclipse is all about the process of Manifestation into Form (Taurus), and the role that Passion (Scorpio) plays in that process. What is hidden now about co-creation will be revealed over the next 18 months. Yet while our relationships have changed enormously since the Venus-Mars conjunction of May, 2002, they are likely to change as much again between now and 2005, as it will be yet another 14 months before this Venus-Mars cycle emerges from its phase of darkness. Likewise, our relationship with reality has been, and will continue changing equally as much in the same time frame if we let it.
In closing, I’d like to mention the fact that the chart of the Harmonic Concordance also holds an extremely profound configuration called a “Yod,” otherwise known as “The Finger of God”. The way it was described to me many years ago, at some point, the road you have been on will come to an end, and you will have to make a choice to begin moving in a different direction. The Yod in the Harmonic Concordance chart begins with the Sextile between Saturn (Restriction) and Jupiter (Expansion), and points across the sky to Neptune (Spirituality), which just started moving forward again on October 23rd, and has been at 11° Aquarius for some time now.
The Sabian Symbol for that degree is described as “An artist, away from the world, receives a new inspiration.” As our creative higher mind is receiving a new inspiration from the cosmic internet, mankind is experiencing a new level of psychic perception.
Interestingly enough, the Coptic International organization has reported that within 3 days, on November 11th, there will actually be four Fingers of God (Yods) displayed in the heavens, symbolically serving to “cleanse our personal and planetary past life Karma, and a new civilization will emerge rooted in multi-dimensional awareness of its own Divinity and Love.”
While it’s clear that major changes are coming, it is still up us to make the conscious decision to banish darkness from our existence. It is my hope that each of you will choose to join me in manifesting a new Destiny for yourself and our human race.