Capricorn Solar Festival: Year-End 2007 & What Is to Come
December 14, 2007

by Malvin Artley		print version
		print version (graphics)

I did my civic duty the other day and cast my vote in the Australian elections. It was a fateful day in many respects. Uranus had just turned direct after the 5 months in its retrograde period. I have to tell you, people were ready for change, as the election outcome indicated.

The past five months have been a very frustrating time for many and a 12-year period is being brought to its conclusion in grand fashion. There will be resounding effects from last weekend in the months to come, both on the world stage and in many people’s lives.

I had just finished voting Saturday and was on my way to get some lunch, when the sound of bagpipes in the distance caught my ear. It is not a sound one hears every day, but it has a way of drawing one towards it. I followed the sound and finally found its source in one of the local watering spots.

As it turns out, the music was coming from the Adelaide Irish Pipe Band—and a fine show it was, too! I stood there for the longest time and listened to them until my stomach got the better of me and I made my way to lunch. There is not much to compare with about 20 bagpipes all playing at the same time in a small room, along with the accompanying field drums and bass drums. It was not an organized event. They were all having an impromptu gathering after playing a show and were just having a good time, along with the requisite ales. They were playing requests and whatever took their fancy. There were a few solo numbers, a few forays into untried jigs, a bit of highland dancing and even a drum solo. I enjoyed the informality of it and the joy the music brought to the faces of everyone there.

The music was mighty fine, as we say in the southern US, but that is not what really grabbed me about the event. What struck me was what happened after I had been there for a while. Between the wall of sound made by that many bagpipes, the crackling repartee of the field drums and the pulsing bass drums, one is quickly taken away from the world that had engaged the mind a few minutes before.

A retinue of history began to file before my mind’s eye. I began to see armies marching into battle, grand state celebrations, funerals and weddings, a lone young Scottish woman dancing (this one particularly struck me because of familial connections)—it was like I was remembering, yet it all seemed so much in the present. Art, and particularly music, can have that effect upon a person.

Perhaps it is the strong Anglo/Celtic strain that runs through my blood line. Perhaps it is simply the ability of music like that to rouse and inspire a person. Whatever the reason, I found myself entranced with it. I did not think about it until later, but at the moment I was listening to that band, Uranus had just turned direct. I had seen other things that morning, too that I could have taken as signs of things to come. I will have to see what comes of those, but at that time I knew that the election, at least, was going to have a strong twist to it—as it did—and that the full moon of Saturday and the ones to come over the next few months were and are going to bring sweeping changes with them. More on this latter observation in a bit.

Before I get into the body of this letter, though, to all readers of Anglo/Celtic descent—or to those readers who have ‘pipe music’ in their heritage—next time you hear the pipes playing, take some time and see where it takes you. There is something about it that stirs the depths of one’s psyche.

This will be my final letter of the year to you. The US has just had its biggest shopping day of the year. The Macy’s Day parade has come and gone and we are all beginning to enter into the period of spiritual retreat for the year (the Sagittarius/Capricorn interlude), not that Macy’s and the spiritual interlude are related.

There are several points that need to be covered in this letter. Firstly, a 12-year cycle has just ended and a new one about to commence. There are four significant retrograde periods that bear some examination and there are three full moon periods, especially, that are going to bring potent energies into lives of this planet. We will start with the 12-year cycle.

The Sagittarius solar festival (full moon of 24^th Nov.) was the culmination of the Month of the White [Metal] Pig, the final of the 12 lunar months of the Chinese year. Since this year is a Pig year as well, we have just had the culmination of the subjective energies for the year in the Sagittarius festival.

The Pig, for those unfamiliar with Chinese and Tibetan astrology, is the final animal of the cycle of twelve, whether that cycle relates to days, years, etc. The Pig, therefore, is about finishing, endings and making way for beginnings. ‘Double Pigs’ are a big statement to the collective psyche—wrap things up and move on. That is exactly what happened regarding the Australian electorate and the Howard government.

The Chinese New Year of 2008 marks a period of new starts, being the Year of the Yellow [Earth] Rat (more on that when I do my Chinese letter in the New Year). John Howard took office for the first time in a Fire Rat year (1996). The ‘Rat’ is the commencement of the Chinese cycle. We know now that the electorate was ready for a change in 1996 as well. The tide has simply turned and the cycles have shown their imprint upon people. What the Rudd years (if they are to be years) will bring is anyone’s guess.

2008 looks to be a year of unexpected outcomes. It is of particular interest to note that the Chinese New Year begins on 7 Feb 2008, with a partial solar eclipse and a small stellium conjunct the 15^th degree of Aquarius, well-known in mundane astrological circles as a ‘disaster degree’, with Pluto on an Aries point (0 Capricorn 21) as well in semi-square to the stellium. Hmmm………Again, we will look at that more with the Chinese New Year letter.

The Sagittarius festival occurred during the strongest point of a Moon Wobble, with the Sun/Moon axis within a degree of being square to the Nodes. You have probably noticed that emotional energies have been running high over the past week or so. Uranus was at its direct station and it was the ‘witching hour’ in much of Australia at the time of the full moon. There was not a single easy aspect to the Sun or Moon in that figure.

People who are regular meditators probably noticed, too, that there were many interferences over the preceding week as the Moon Wobble intensified and the outflow from the subconscious was more strongly activated. Anyone with planets or angles in the early degrees of mutable signs would have felt that full moon very strongly, and they will feel the next few as well due to Saturn’s influence, all the way into mid-2008.

All of those factors combined introduced a potent mix of energies for change and that will stay with us right through the first half of 2008. This should be seen as a positive time, however. Much has needed to change. The eclipse of 7 Feb 2008 is a North Node eclipse, bringing about new starts.

For now, though, it is time to have a ‘spring clean’ for the psyche and prepare for the interlude of the spiritual year (December solstice and Capricorn full moon) in preparation for the high points of the year to come with the Aries, Taurus and Gemini festivals of 2008.

The next new moon takes place on the 10 Dec 2007 at 4:40 AM AEDT and inaugurates the Month of the Mountain [Water] Rat, hopefully bringing ‘recovery from misfortune’, as described in the dynamics for that figure. The admonition over that month is to take joy in volunteer work and to find contentment with small things. Overall, the underlying message for that lunar month is to give of one’s self and to take time ‘catch one’s breath’, as it were—an appropriate message for the Christmas season.

The same dynamic is carried through into the following lunar month (the Month of the Ox By the Gate [Water]), commencing on Jan 8^th. So, we have two lunar months indicating a ‘period of recovery’. Further, the ‘Ox’ Month speaks of taking time to observe, listen and not give advice unless it is requested. On this theme of recovery, though, we may well ask, “Recovery from what?”
 
I would simply ask, has the past year or two been easy for you? The clues for the answer to those questions lay in the conclusion of the twelve year cycle, the long-running interplay between Saturn and Chiron (which will continue off and on via declinations until mid-2009), the conclusion of certain sub-plots (karmic, of course) that have been playing out since the end of 2005—and I have heard from many of you about those over the past two years—and the most recent direct and retrograde motions of certain planets, most notably Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. It is this latter theme which we will examine now. Each planet will be taken in its turn.

Every planet has certain key words that describe its action on the human psyche. Beginning with Mars, perhaps the most appropriate key word or phrase for that planet is ‘personal volition/assertiveness’. That is what is typically imparted by Mars in its direct (normal) motion.

When the motion is retrograde, however—and this applies to any planet—the normal expression of the planet is turned in on itself and is thus frustrated in the outer world. There is a blessing in this, though, because the energies of the planet can then be used as a springboard for an ‘inner journey’ of sorts—a vision quest, if you will—regarding the activities of whatever planet is involved.

Mars, for example, largely has rulership over the persona esoterically considered, and imparts willfulness to the native. As such, it brings a fair amount of conflict with it because assertive people are not generally welcomed by many in our society, especially when we are on the receiving end of the assertive person.

Overall, we need Martian energy to move us out into the world, to achieve our goals, to pit ourselves against the world, to test our mettle, to assert ourselves personally and to initiate action. That is how Mars ‘behaves’ when direct. When retrograde, the reverse is often seen to be true, at least to outer appearances. When a person has Mars retrograde natally they may be seen to be ineffectual in the world in many ways, being uncomfortable with what society deems to be normal modes of expressing one’s self. They may seem to lack courage in the outer world or to withdraw under stress. Instead of the fire showing on the surface, it ‘blazes within’, and until the Mars retrograde person recognizes their own dynamic and comes to terms with it, the result can decidedly self-destructive at times.

Mars is the ‘warrior planet’. For one with retrograde Mars natally, the fighting spirit is turned inward. The best expression of this type of dynamic is seen in the artist or the person of decided spiritual (inward) inclination. It is a brilliant placement for anyone seeking to face and do battle with their ‘inner demons’. Psychological work and counseling are natural avenues of expression for the Mars retrograde type.

Such people need a safety valve, though, because all that energy turned inward, unless one knows where and how to direct it, can build up suddenly and manifest in any of a number of self-destructive actions—accidents, substance abuse, addictions, self-harming, etc. That is why any type of artistic or spiritual work is great for the Mars retrograde person because it gives a natural outflow for the Martian energy and creative impulse.

Having said all this, the same applies when Mars goes retrograde by progression or transit, as it did on the 16^th of November 2007. Mars will be in its retrograde phase until 31 Jan 2008. During that period (especially considering the lunar months during that time), find a creative/spiritual/psychological outlet, especially if you have planets around the first half of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). If you feel frustrated between now and the start of the Chinese New Year, find a positive way of releasing it! Otherwise, accidents are a very real threat and the tendency will be for blow-ups, arguments, relationship breaks and problems with the law.

Mars crossed into its shadow area in mid-September of this year, so anything that was lingering on that needed to be dealt with at that time is coming up for review now. Look within for the reasons for your frustrations then, deal with them and be done with it, if you have not already. It is time to face the enemy within. It is a well-known Buddhist aphorism that if you want to be rid of your ‘enemies’, be done with your anger (Mars rules anger).

I will say the following as well—if you have had some piece of spiritual/inner work you have been putting off, pursue it aggressively now. You will not get a chance like this again for another two years. In all, the Mars retrograde period is one in which personal affairs will feel thwarted in some way unless one spends a lot of time reflecting and doing something really creative—more in solitude, not so much in the world.

The latter sentence takes on a special meaning at the Capricorn solar festival on Christmas Eve, because Mars is involved in a very potent pattern of planetary energies across the Cancer/Capricorn axis. We will have more on that in a bit. Mars will finally leave its shadow area on 4 Apr 08, thus completing the dynamics of the retrograde phase, which actually began in med-September when it entered the shadow area. (The shadow area is the span of the zodiac a planet traverses during its retrograde period.)

The next planet to consider in terms of retrogradation is Saturn. It crossed into its shadow area at the same time as Mars—in mid-September. Thus, we have a double emphasis upon events that were taking shape around that time and continuing during the entire period through mid-April of next year.

Saturn reaches its retrograde station on Dec 18^th on the 9^th degree of Virgo, the symbol for which reads: “An expressionist painter at work.” It finally reaches its direct station on the 2^nd degree of Virgo on the 3^rd of May next year, the symbol for which reads: “A large white cross dominates the landscape.”

What began in mid-September of this year might be called, as Dane Rudhyar states it, a ‘liberating ordeal’. It has certainly been a liberating period since then, and in a number of ways for different people. It has also been a trying time in many ways. What we will gain from the experience of Saturn’s sojourn in its shadow area is compassion and, hopefully, the requisite wisdom. The die has been cast since 15 Sept. The key word for Saturn is ‘necessity’. As Saturn moves in direct motion we are called to upon to do that which is necessary in the outer world and to find or create the opportunities for growth through the experiences of that.

When Saturn reverses direction at the retrograde station December 18, we will have the opportunity to reflect upon what we have done or learned. If we have ‘done the right thing’ in the time leading up to the station, then the retrograde period can be a time wherein we can gain some very positive insights into our recent experiences. If we have missed something in the mix and not done what we were called upon to do, then the retrograde period of Saturn can be a painful and frustrating time.

A strong sense of unfinished business is likely to characterize the period between Dec 18^th and May 3^rd. There are liable to be setbacks to or postponements of people’s worldly ambitions (Mars and Saturn both rule personal ambition). If there are unaccountable setbacks during those months then one can be certain that there are inner adjustments to be made to one’s thinking, or that something vital to one’s plans has been missed or ignored. What is demanded during the Saturn retrograde interlude is the fulfillment of one’s inner growth.

A very important point needs to be made here: Look back in your diaries to mid-September and see what was going on in your life. Then look at what has happened in the lead-up to mid-December. Have you had make certain necessary adjustments in your life? Were they made in accord with your own higher good and the highest good of those around you? Are conditions better since then, moving toward some sort of resolution, stalemated or has all gone horribly wrong? Has this especially been the case since the 24^th of June this year?
(More on that in a bit.)

If mistakes have been made, then the retrograde period of Saturn will show us what those were. If we have made the correct choices, then we will have an opportunity to reflect upon how things can be improved even more. Saturn retrograde is a time of careful, inner planning and readjustments. If either station takes place near, square or opposing natal planets or on angles, then the effects of Saturn will be even more pronounced, poignant or fulfilling. Remember, Saturn hovers around the eclipse degree of 20 Aug 07 (4 Virgo/Pisces), so emotional concerns will take on an even more fated feel than usual, especially if natal planets are involved.

With the preceding, we need to take a look at the retrograde Uranus period which started 23 Jun 07 and lasted through 24 Nov 07. Uranus and Saturn form a pair in what they bring to a person’s life—a sort of ‘odd couple’, if you will.

Whereas Saturn represents necessities which are borne out of causes often having their roots far in the past, Uranus represents progress, growing beyond the bounds of those environing conditions indicated by Saturn and brings about those circumstances that foster better conditions for the unfolding of one’s spiritual life.

During the retrograde phase of Uranus, that progress can often get thwarted by the outer world and one then embarks on an inner quest to find out why things went wrong and what is needed to get one’s spiritual progress back on track. Uranus entered the shadow area in the first week of March this year and there were certain definitive steps that people made in that time that were meant to take them forward into a new phase of life or an expansion of sorts during that period.

If there were setbacks after Jun 23^rd it meant either the conditions for progress were not properly in place or personal difficulties kept one from realizing the full potential of what Uranus was supposed to bring from the first few months of 2007. Essentially, we are revisiting what was going on spiritually around the first part of March and we are being given another shot at whatever it was we were trying to externalize—if those steps were needed.

Both stations of Uranus this year had a strong theme of instruction in them. The direct station just past (Nov 24th) had as it symbol: “An officer instructing his men before a simulated assault under a barrage of live shells.” (15 Pisces) It is this symbol that is being revisited now, and Uranus is still on that degree. The degree of the retrograde station on Jun 23^rd had as its symbol: “A Master instructing his disciple.” (19 Pisces) Uranus will pass this point again in March 8^th of next year.

The March ingress of Uranus into the Uranus shadow area and the November station were meant to encourage and empower us. Somewhere deep within the psyche we were and are again being called to take courageous spiritual steps forward. Curiously, Uranus will remain on the 15^th degree of Pisces until Dec 14^th, just as Saturn reaches its retrograde station for this year.

Here is the scenario, then: We have a chance to take a step out of the comfort zone and do something daring—something that was beckoning in the first part of the year. When Saturn turns retrograde we will see if we finally got it right. Then, maybe, if there has been ‘misfortune’ over the past months or couple of years, real or imagined, the coming Rat and Ox months will supply the energies that will allow us the space to heal that.

As for the retrograde period of Uranus, the symbol for that is fairly self-explanatory—there has been a lot of inner instruction going on since June 24^th, either from real Masters or from the higher Self, which is the true Master anyway. I think it is fair to say that we have all learned quite a bit in the past few months, and mainly about ourselves. Now, it is time to apply all that garnered wisdom under ‘the barrage of live shells’ that life has on offer.

As for the final retrograde period under consideration—that of Neptune—it has been and gone, but we need to have a look at it anyway because Neptune will be in its shadow area until Feb 18^th next year. Hence, we are now applying what Neptune brought to us during the retrograde phase (24 May 07—1 Nov 07).
 
Neptune first crossed into its shadow area on 1 Feb 07 on the 20^th degree of Aquarius, the symbol for which reads: “A large white dove bearing a message.” This symbol speaks of a deep and abiding message or indication from the Soul, the significance of which should bring us deep inner peace. Neptune carries the energy of truth—spiritual Truth. Therefore, look at what was going on in your life around the first part of February this year and in the first part of November as well. What was the higher message for you? Were you able to live it and bring it through into your outer life? This latter point is what was meant to be exhibited in the outer life through the agency of Neptune. Neptune will remain on this ‘dove’ degree until the 22^nd of December.

When Neptune made its retrograde station in the latter part of May this year it was on the 23^rd degree of Aquarius, the symbol for which reads: “A big bear sitting down and waving all its paws.” The message here is about inner training. However, training under Neptune often carries subtle meanings with it. Neptune is the planet of subtlety, nuance, refined sensitivity and understanding. The retrograde phase of Neptune this time was about overcoming coarser and heavy emotions—‘bearish’ problems—with aim toward being better able to implement what was being shown to us at the time Neptune crossed into its shadow area in the first part of the year.

When Neptune finally crosses the degree of its retrograde station for the last time on 18 Feb 08, we will have hopefully learned the self-discipline needed to finally carry through with the message that the higher Self was trying to impart to us and thus be free of certain issues, or maybe just one issue, that had been holding us back prior to that. Maybe then we can all find a greater sense of peace within ourselves and have a message of cheer to give out to the world.

The final item for consideration in this letter is the full moon of December, which occurs on the 24^th at 11:15 AM AEDT (00:15 UT). What a great Christmas gift this will be! (I am serious, now.)

The full moon axis straddles the first degrees of the Cancer/Capricorn axis, which are also known as Aries points, being the 1^st degree of cardinal signs. Thus, this will be a very powerfully-felt full moon and it will bring some big changes with it. It is a pity that it is not an eclipse, too. One can dream, though. In that figure we find the Sun conjunct Jupiter, Pluto and Mercury, with the Sun and Jupiter also in quintile to Uranus. Ring any bells? * Quintiles bring those crises that release creative gifts for people, and when Aries points are involved something of profound beauty can be brought into being, along with a little chaos to make it interesting. You may want to stay out of airplanes during those few days if you can. Uranus rules air travel. I am not forecasting any disasters here, but things could get a little problematic if significant planets or angles are activated in one’s chart. In addition to the little stellium, the Moon conjoins the retrograde Mars, completing the geometric pattern with Uranus, the Sun and Jupiter.

The symbol for the Sun/Jupiter degree reads as follows: “Three rose windows in a gothic church, one damaged by war.” 2 Capricorn This symbol speaks of the waste brought by conflict and the damage to the beauty in life that unnecessary upset can bring. It is also a warning not to give one’s emotions over to negativity, lest the ‘window to the Soul’ be damaged, especially in such a time of retreat as the Capricorn interlude.
 
The symbol for the Moon is equally revealing: “A man on a magic carpet hovers over a large area of land.” 2 Cancer The message here is to rise above things when strife looms large and not to lose one’s greater perspective and sense of calm. Mars/Moon is a classic indicator for petty arguments and familial strife, and when it opposes such a powerful stellium, watch out! We know that the Christmas season can be a time fraught with family difficulties.

Of course, if you want to end a relationship and burn your bridges, the full moon of December would be a great time to do so, but be very carefully considered before you do. Patterns, like the one indicated by this full moon figure, have a way of coming back on a person. Keep inmind, too, that Saturn is contra-parallel to Chiron during the full moon and will be exact toward the end of January. Just be careful, compassionate and kind in your dealings with people. There are some very fated circumstances indicated for the entire final part of this Year of the Pig. However, the December full moon is one of the more creative ones I have seen for a while and it has the strong tinge of originality and genius with it. Enjoy!

Well, that’s it for me for another year. I go into retreat myself after this letter until the New Year. Actually, I have a fair amount of work on over the holidays, but don’t tell anyone. I am supposed to be on retreat.

Whatever happens, we go into 2008 with a fresh outlook, with a lot of old baggage left behind, with great hopes for the future and a few surprises in store—hopefully good ones!

We will see what the new government has in reserve for us here in Australia. We will have to see what the inauguration chart holds.
 
I will be doing the Chinese New Year forecast early in the year and I will be resuming regular letters again before too long. In all, I think 2008 looks a fair bit brighter emotionally. There is excitement in the air, and rightly so—new starts all around. The Earth Rat is about establishing stability and standing for something solid, about empowering one’s self and guarding what is good and true within us. Let us be certain that we go into 2008 free of anything that would prove to be a hindrance to those things.

After hearing the bagpipes the other day I was thinking about the strange twists that life has taken since I have been in Australia and especially since 2000. It has all been good in retrospect and has brought some very nice things to me—most especially, some mighty fine friends. I, and I dare say we, are truly blessed to have the lives we have. Count on your friends. They will get you through a lot. Mine sure have. I like to think I have done the same for them. We may not all march to the same drummer or know all the same tunes, but the shared music is a wonderful thing.

In the sunset of this year let your music be joyful, and don’t let the sun go down on problems unsolved. Life is too short to worry about what might have been or what could have been different. Make things what you want them to be now. Don’t wait.

I can see a lone piper in my mind’s eye standing on a small hill, playing a jig, moving with the music and rousing the hearts of all who can hear him. The music of the Soul has that effect upon people, too. We may stand alone or think that we do, but others hear us and they like what they hear more often than not. Pick a tune and play it for all that it is worth. Play it loud—play it proud!

Merry Christmas!

Malvin

*From Quintile letter of 21 Sep 04

“In strictly human terms, though, quintiles work in one of two ways with people. In a person who is spiritually focused it indicates an acute linkage between imagination and hard mentality. Therefore, this indicates a person who has more than the average ability for working with symbolism, for making the imaginative faculty usable in the mundane world, for seeing things in any given situation in a way that is lost on other people, for getting at the very essence of knowledge and for being able to synthesize and/or organize hard data (concrete knowledge) in truly unique ways. It can be and often is an aspect that indicates pure and true genius. Much of what is passed off as genius is actually simply reorganization of already existent knowledge. True, there is a thing we could call organizational genius, but it has not the true spark of originality in it. It is this originality that the quintile confers or indicates. On the other hand, for the person who is materially focused quintiles often go unnoticed, primarily because their minds do not reach up into the realms of true imagination. They are “earth-bound”, for lack of a better term. However, when the quintile is activated and these people are given a glimpse of the higher realms, what they see is often misinterpreted and misappropriated and the Light the quintile bears is often de-stabilizing to such an individual. In this we see activated the phrase: “There is often a fine line between genius and madness.” Activated in a negative manner, then, the quintile will often bring with it uncontrollable compulsions and destructive behavior as the mind then becomes “the slayer of the real”. It is also often implicated in sexual aberrations, the energetics of which would take to long to go into here.

As a result of the factors outlined in the preceding paragraph, quintiles are found prominently in the charts of true creative geniuses, especially in science and the arts. There is a long litany of famously creative people who have quintiles to their Sun, prominent planets or in strong configuration with other planets.……”

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Malvin Artley, Author & Esoteric Astrologer

Malvin Artley has been a practising astrologer for the past 10 years and is an accredited member of the American Federation of Astrologers. He is the author of "Bodies of Fire: An Exploration of the Lesser Chakra System". He has authored numerous articles and was a member of the faculty of the Universtiy of the Seven Rays, a non-profit organization dedicated to the teaching of the Trans-Himalaya tradition as expressed through the books of Alice Bailey, Helena Blavatsky and others. His primary focus over the past 25 years has been on the sciences as they express occultism and with bridging work between the two. His special interests are the human subtle energy system and all the chakras, or energy centres, physics and technology, astronomy and all aspects of Chinese occultism. He now lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

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