Gathering Seeds
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Ringing a bell
At least twice each year, six months apart, there is at least one Solar Eclipse. At eclipse time, lots of astrologers are talking about what to expect. But what we don’t talk about as much are the two hot spots of the year, exactly between the eclipses.
This week, the Sun in Aries makes a square to the Lunar Nodes in Cancer/Capricorn (March 23, 2020, 4:19 pm PDT). In fact, the next day’s New Moon at 4 Aries is square the Christmas 2019 Solar Eclipse at 4 Capricorn AND this summer’s June 21 Solar eclipse at 0 Cancer.
This is a potent midway point in the overall eclipse cycle for the year – a cycle of critical turning points that are ultimately designed to move us from the Capricorn South Node safety zone (fear, deprivation, rules, harsh authorities) toward the Cancer North Node and its promise of togetherness, caretaking, and nurturing. If the Solar Eclipses, six months apart, occupy either end of a teeter-totter, these midway points are like the fulcrum. For a moment, the two sides are equal… and then, between now and June, we’re as far into the side of fear as we’re likely to be all year.
How we cope in this present moment has a direct bearing on how the June 21 Solstice eclipse will unfold for us. For you, personally, look to the houses of your chart where early Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn fall. Here is the cross of life that is affected for you now. This is where you are about to ring a bell that can’t be unrung. Be sure that you’re ringing it with joy, not out of fear.
Knowing our limits
This week’s Aries New Moon (March 24, 2020, 2:28 am PDT) comes just after the Vernal Equinox. January’s calendar New Year can inspire us to make plans … and just see how those have turned out in recent weeks. But the Vernal Equinox, and the Aries New Moon, are the real starting line. Everything up to now has been planning. Do something, anything, says Aries. If you take no steps, you’ll never get to the top of the mountain.
However, the New Moon is the dark time of the lunar cycle, when we don’t exactly know where we are, let alone where we want to go. And at this particular New Moon, we need to recognize those limits.
Years ago, visiting Cornwall, Jonny and I visited the ruins of Tintagel castle, site of the mythical conception of King Arthur. Between the visitor’s entrance and the most spectacular ruins was a gaping chasm which today, as I understand it, is connected by a lovely bridge. But back then, the journey involved two steep flights of slippery, slate steps. As a woman over 50 who had been struggling with some respiratory issues, I stood at the precipice and carefully sized up my chances of making it there and back. Just about then, two very fit men, probably in their early thirties, reached the top of the steps on their return journey. They threw themselves on the grass practically at my feet, gasping for air and covered in sweat.
I took the hint.
This New Moon invites us to sow new, bold seeds– but its approaching squares to Mars, Jupiter, and Pluto in Capricorn should give us pause. The journey ahead is a rocky one, and we must gauge our fitness level and pace ourselves. Fortunately, Mars – the ruler of Aries – is one of the Capricorn brigade, and well-placed in this sign. If we choose our battles wisely, formulate a strategy and deploy our resources in a measured, pragmatic way, victory is possible. But there is no bridge, and it won’t be easy. Proceed with caution.
Seeds in the Underworld
As Venus in beautiful, sensual Taurus comes into trine aspects with Jupiter (March 27, 2020, 9:24 pm PDT) and Pluto (March 28, 2020, 7:57 pm PDT) this week, we’re locked up in our caves, as surely as Pluto in the underworld.
And like Pluto, we long for beauty and pleasure – the beauty of the out-of-doors, of simple fellowship with our fellow humans, of human touch and fun and novelty. A meal at our favorite restaurant, attended by a beloved server who treats us like family. The experience of sitting together in a dimly lit room to watch a performance or a film. The impromptu weekend getaway!
But instead, we’re grasping for other Taurean talismans, relics of a more easy and prosperous time, like toilet paper and eggs and paper towels and chocolate. We’re texting friends for Netflix recommendations, and trying to make each other laugh with the latest silly memes.
Just remember, says Venus in Taurus, that while you have breath in your body, you’re lucky. When you’re gasping for air, you can’t think of anything but the next breath.
How much we take for granted in a modern, prosperous western society! The preferred groceries, abundant paper products, just a trip to the supermarket and a few bucks away.
But remember that in Pluto’s cave there are riches. He’s the god of all the wealth beneath the earth, the jewels, the oil – and most pertinent right now, the seeds. In Persephone’s half of the year underground, the fields are fallow and there is hunger and want. But when she rises in the spring, there are pleasure and plenty.
In this Pluto time, we’re underground. But this isn’t the end. We’re gathering seeds. We will emerge again.
© 2020 April Elliott Kent
Jen and I explore all the week’s highlights on this week’s episode, 018 | An Aries New Moon and a Kerflooey World
