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Harmonic Concordance or The November Star of David After the astonishing personal, political and astrological developments of late summer, we begin to come under the influence of a total lunar eclipse across Taurus-Scorpio that people have been talking about for a long time. It's being called the Harmonic Concordance by some astrologers, and plans are underway to celebrate this event globally. Harmonic Concordance is a reference to the Harmonic Convergence of August 16 and 17, 1987. The Convergence, one of the rare events created by the New Age movement that was quite effective at reaching into the mainstream culture, was timed to be about 25 years before the purported "end of the Mayan calendar" in 2012. It seemed to serve as a major energetic release point and was, at least, a global celebration of peace celebrated in thousands of gatherings. The Harmonic Concordance, which happens this Nov. 8, is an exact opposition of the Sun and Moon, with other planets arranged around the eclipse in a Star of David or grand sextile pattern. Unlike the upcoming Harmonic Concordance, the Convergence of '87 was not planned astrologically -- rather, it was planned using the Mayan system of day counting (in particular, the Dreamspell count designed by José Arguelles, author of The Mayan Factor and the creator of the event). Astrologically, the upcoming Nov. 8 configuration consists of two grand trines happening at the same time, in this case, in the earthy and watery elements. The grand trines (which are reasonably close aspects, but not exact) occur simultaneously with a total lunar eclipse. The eclipse is the cosmic trigger, as eclipses always are. Grand trines on their own are not necessarily something that people can feel viscerally, but an eclipse of the moon is something that most of the population will notice in their emotions, minds and bodies. In a sense, the eclipse delivers the aspects that surround it, in this case, the Star of David. The star consists of the following: Luna, eclipsed in Taurus near the north node of the moon; trine Jupiter in Virgo; trine Chiron in Capricorn. That's the grand earth trine. Then there's Sol in Scorpio near the south node, trine Mars in Pisces, trine Saturn in Cancer. That's the grand water trine. Superimpose the two triangles and you get the Star of David, or the six-pointed Jewish star. The Star of David is an occult symbol that blends the symbols of the four elements of Western natural religion, earth, air, fire and water. A grand sextile is a friendly aspect, considered to be the most stable structure in astrology. The hexagon, or six-sided shape based on dividing a circle in six, is the basis of the geodesic dome (which consists of some pentagons and many hexagons). The geodesic dome is a structure that can support incredible amounts of weight but is itself comparatively weightless (compared to a normal building, that is). Compared to a grand cross (something we all experienced in the summer of 1999, four planets in an X pattern) a grand sextile is harmonious, with all those trines representing the flow of energy rather than the collisions of right angles. While a grand cross aggravates, a grand sextile (which is far more rare than a grand square, by the way) mitigates. Might we have something that requires mitigation? Writing this on August 12, everything seems fine enough, but as I write, Earth and Mars are approaching their closest pass in 60,000 years, astrology which extends into September, when many planets will be opposing Mars. One way to assess the strength of aspects is by how rare they are, and once every 60,000 years qualifies. We can reasonably expect to be connected with a series of events both in our private lives and on the world stage. But even if the turbulent astrology of late summer has no special association with an event, it seems obvious enough that there is enormous pain in the world demanding attention, and it may get our attention somehow. Much of the story of the grand sextile is be told by a conjunction of the sun with a minor planet, Hylonome. Discovered in 1995, Hylonome, is usually associated with the healing of grief and, more importantly, the healing of senseless grief. It's also been described as "the cry of the poor" in a world where opulence and decrepit poverty coexist side-by-side even in our own neighborhoods, and where whole families could live off of what many Americans put in the trash each night. Another meaningful minor planet aspect in the grand sextile involves Varuna, the first planet beyond Pluto to have a name (bestowed in 2000), which is closely conjoining Saturn in Cancer. If Saturn represents the mundane order and the limits that seem to be imposed on it, Varuna takes us to the awareness of the cosmic order, reminding us, however dimly, of what is beyond our perceptions. Part of what Varuna represents is demotion (since Varuna was himself a god who was demoted). Conjunct Saturn, we may witness a rearrangement of our perception of Saturnian authority -- in particular, our parents, our surrogate parents known as the government, and our other surrogate parents frequently manifesting in the form of spouses. We are certainly enamored of these authority figures, but Chiron in Capricorn -- which closely opposes Saturn and Varuna -- has been exposing injustice since that transit began in late 2001. And Chiron means business. I associate the scandals involving Enron, Worldcom, the Catholic church, and the numerous "Bush Knew" scenarios in the FBI and CIA as being products of Chiron in Capricorn. The real scandal is we know but we (for the most part) would rather believe lies. Might we be headed for a day of reckoning? I'm not going to hold my breath, but it looks like we're going to learn something unusual, and it looks like something positive might come as a result of it. In any event, watch the Internet and your community bulletin boards for Harmonic Concordance events in your area. The theme of the Concordance is using astrology constructively rather than merely watching what happens and dealing with it. In this sense, astrology is being used as a platform for ritual or ceremonial magic, and the conscious intention is about healing the pain of the world. Remember, our personal pain is part of the pain of the world. The Harmonic Concordance gives us something to work both toward and with. It would, for example, be useful and practical to set Nov. 8 as a point in time by which you resolve any of the deeper issues that have been nagging you. My sense is that if you can define your problems in a clear way, and in a way that a solution is possible, the solution will materialize around the time of the Concordance. The feeling I'm getting is that of the pieces of a structure coming together, and then there's a release of energy or tension associated with the eclipse. This release energy can be applied to patterns that we can't seem to get out of, particularly emotional and material. Here is how that works astrologically. In this event there's a grand water trine consisting of planets in all three water signs. Then there's an event -- a lunar eclipse -- in an earth sign, creating what's called a kite pattern. Kite patterns (planets arranged in the approximate shape of a kite) are useful because they get us out of the Bermuda triangle of a grand trine. Grand trines are easy, but that's precisely the problem. We can get stuck in their flow, their opportunity, their luck, or whatever they offer. So if we add the missing element, in this case earth for a grand water trine, or water for a grand earth trine, we get an exit, or a doorway to a new level. Overwhelming or persistent emotional conditions may find their release in the practicality of that Taurus moon. Obsessing over materiality may find its release in the Scorpio sun conjunct Hylonome. In any case, I feel that it's a truly positive and necessary development when we use astrology as part of a visioning process, playing with the imagery, comparing it to our lives, and using it to shift our context, even if only a little. This is not merely a mental game, because the geometry of the solar system is aligning in shapes which possess verifiable energetic qualities. Yet the idea of using astrology to plan ritual, ceremony and prayer is an old idea whose time has come again. If we keep doing this, we start to get not only the idea that we're part of the comic order, but also a taste of the experience. With the upcoming Harmonic Concordance, it may be more of a lavish feast than a sample, however. ++ Current Astrological Highlights We are headed for an exciting week. Monday is a stunning Venus-Sun conjunction in Leo. On Thursday, we experience a Venus-Jupiter conjunction in the same sign. Venus then enters Virgo on aug. 22 and the sun enters Virgo on the 23rd. The moon is waning. Webcasting Comes to Planet Waves, or Vice Versa Every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. PST or 11:45 a.m. EST, I do a live webcast at http://www.voiceofvashon.org/ hosted by Susan McCabe. Please spread the word. Planet Waves Weekly Horoscope by Eric Francis http://www.PlanetWaves.net/ Birthdays This Week - Late Leo The key to happiness is in your hand, and that is a very rare condition on World Earth. You will enter the temple of contentment and creativity first through maintaining your personal integrity. Integrity is a rather overused word in our language, and what it means is being integrated: being one with yourself. The way to do that is fairly simple. You need only to get out of the all-too-modern habit of dividing yourself up, in terms of your beliefs, your opinions, your needs and most of all, your ability to love, for the sake of other people. This is a truly brilliant time for you to express your most precious aspirations. It's as if you are being given a personal invitation from the cosmos to reach for your highest goals, and the reminder that you are truly ready. This week's Sun-Venus conjunction late in your sign suggests that you've been working toward a goal for a long time, with the greatest portion of that work occurring between early November 2002 and today. Consider what you were doing, what you were drawn to and what you had observed in those very strange days of autumn, almost one year ago. Those are your real goals, and if you remember the insights that came to you then, you will have the gift of greater clarity today. You continue to be supported enormously by Pluto in Sagittarius and by the presence of Jupiter in your sign. Together these are giving you the strength of faith and the power of belief in yourself. In a short while, Jupiter will move into your money angle -- this counts for all Leos -- and the message is to use the very best of your considerable intelligence to plan for yourself financially. Financial planning tends to emphasize self-worth and demystify money. You're heading into a rich season of your life for both of these factors. This sense of self-worth is what needs to guide your relationships. Few Leos suffer from lack of self-esteem, but everything is relative. Once you see what you've been missing, I think you'll feel a lot more encouraged. You may have far more choices of love partners than you imagined possible, people who will be drawn to your awareness, creativity and radiance. Shine your light on everyone, but choose those who feed you the most appropriately. You will, to be sure, have some -- though few --- needs that can only be fulfilled by others. So when you choose, you need to choose specifically. Remember: you are a blessing to all those you meet. But you owe them nothing; whatever you give, you give freely, as a gift. Look for that in others. Aries (March 20-April 19) You are so deep inside yourself and getting clear on what's important to you, and true for you, that you may not be noticing what certain people have done to move your life along, or what they went through that taught them to be so supportive. True, what you're going through is complicated, challenging and requires the daring to speak truth to those who may not be inclined to such astounding feats of daring and faith. True, your primary responsibility is to throw away every excuse you've given yourself for not really living. But you don't need to be so defensive. You're safe. Ideas cannot harm you, not yours, and not anyone else's. Taurus (April 19-May 20) Everything is perfectly fine in your life except for the looming presence of an authority figure you can't name, can't see and have no idea what power may be exercised in your life. You need to get on top of this one and take authority over yourself away from anyone who may have it, or who you fear has it. As you're seeing, peace of mind can have a fragile quality, but it's more durable when we confront the people and issues that threaten us on any level. A lot hinges on this particular move; in a way, certain small decisions you make this week can shape many years of your life to come. Gemini (May 20-June 21) You're being forced to confront a difficult emotional situation, and you'll be a better for having gone through it. Unlike most of the others you've experienced recently, this involves someone else who may hold a fairly large amount of sway in your life. You look up to this person, which is part of the hook; it's difficult for you to be objective or to see the point at which you're actually on equal standing. Ultimately forgiveness is the key to any lasting relationship. We could hold grudges against one another from now till the sun goes nova, and all we'd have would be a bunch of people not on speaking terms. Cancer (June 21-July 22) While it may seem that people are difficult to comprehend and even more difficult to hold to a commitment, they are likely to be experiencing you as beyond reach or emotional penetration. The grain of truth to their perception is that you've come to respect the power of holding open some space that you call your own, and of making decisions for yourself without thinking of the feelings of others. While this hardly qualifies as a virtue in the conventional world of human interaction, you're in a somewhat different position as the official first-responder to all human needs of the zodiac. You may not know it yet, but you're claiming back your life. Leo (July 22-Aug 23) You may be noticing the subtle perils of relationship a little more clearly than usual. For example, the problem with experiencing partnership as a primary rather than secondary identity is the fragmenting quality this can create within your sense of self, particularly now. This works no matter how attractive you are -- and you're surely appearing in the radar of the people around you as eminently attractive these days. If they told you the truth, most people would admit that being attractive gets them into more trouble than it gets them out of. You'll get past this, but for now, keep your eyes open and your priorities on yourself. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) You're now facing a situation in which you're being summoned to be what used to be called 'the bigger person'. To get along with people, we must at least seek to understand where they are coming from, and to be flexible with the things they believe about themselves that are not true. You would not want to be judged based on your fears; you must forgive others their misconceptions about themselves and the way they have fallen prey to the lies they were told. You can afford to be generous; your life is a lot better than you think it is right now and you can be a truly positive influence, though you'll be more likely to believe this with confirmation. Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) If you're not connected to the rewards of your work, this would be a good time to take notice. If you work is not rewarding, now would be an especially good time to connect with such a notion. The fact that you have to work at all is challenging enough; that you're likely to have to work in surroundings that are not entirely suited for you is too much for your chart to bear right now. Open up to some different possibilities, open up to more money and open up to what your deeper nature is calling on you to do for yourself. Now is the time. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) The current Mars retrograde is a personal message for you to deal with certain hidden dimensions of yourself and your relationships that have been trying to get to the top of the agenda for years. Your current obsession over a friendship or a child is a clue to what you need to prioritize. You can see something in this person that is quite revealing of what you experienced when you were younger. Once people are taught to deceive themselves, it's very difficult to break that pattern, but it can be done, and the way it's done best is gently. The truth is shocking enough all by itself. Speak it softly, and listen for the reply. Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22) If the condition of a personal relationship is in some way preventing you from living out your dreams, then this would be a good time to review why you're there. There is very little you actually need in this world that you can't create for yourself. But stress and tension can get a hold on you and wear down that soft Sagittarian optimism more easily than you care to admit. The answer does not reside in making up stories about what is good for you. True resolution will only come when you can state your real intentions clearly. Others need to hear you, clearly. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) You may be getting a feel for how tricky life gets when you open up to feeling. There are suddenly so many concerns other than the ones that had your attention on the brain wavelength. Priorities become deeper, and they get larger, and they involve more people more intimately. Most intense of all, feeling, once acknowledged, must take precedent over doing and thinking, which rearranges the control dynamics of your life. It would be great if we could keep everyone in their little room. But we get the most from relationships when we make room for people to be exactly who they are, and accept them fully. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You may still be wresting with the feeling that your life is somehow cursed, or that disaster looms around every corner. You've reached a point in your growth where it's necessary to discern fear from intuition. This is, of course, the big issue with intuition -- if we open up to an inner voice, what about the one that's constantly threatening you with unsavory possibilities? There's a very big difference between fear and intuition, one being that intuition is usually confirmed pretty quickly and fear is usually left waiting, and wanting, almost every time. More goes right in this world than goes wrong. Check it out. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) It's a small wonder that we ever trust desire. So often it winds up, having gone through wanting someone or something and striving to bring that thing or person to us, it turns out to not be what we wanted. There's a paradox here. There's no need to dwell on it. Your charts suggest strongly that you can, if you want, sort out the difference between true and false desire. Experience is the best teacher along these lines, but remember that false desire has its origins. You were no doubt taught that the thrill of gain, that is, of getting, had some special value. Well, it did, for them, but not for you. ++ How do newspaper horoscopes work? Planet Waves Weekly and PlanetWaves.net are edited by Eric Francis, with help from Chelsea Bottinelli and the Vision List. This newsletter is $50 per year and published 48 times per year. We encourage our readers to contribute their artwork and writing to the Planet Waves project and to cultivate themselves as creative forces in the unusual and socially formative times in which we live. |
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