A New Moon of Startling Consequence and Healing Potential

Thursdays New Moon continues the cycle of Uranian lunations, so that as we head
further into fall, we can expect more surprises and also hopefully a good dose of
helpful illumination. Indeed we are ready for a brand new start, especially here
in Northern California, where I reside. The fires have been devastating. We are
fortunate that every thirty days we get to have such a fresh beginning, bringing
new insights into play as it builds on the foundations of the old cycle. This
configuration once again sees the preponderance of emphasis on the trickster
planet, Uranus, as have recent New Moon lunations from the August 21st eclipse
right through the previous late September cycle, when the Sun and Moon closely
aspected Uranus in late Aries. This time, on October 19th, the two lights are
exactly opposite to Uranus, in the same degree of Libra as Uranus occupies
in Aries. Only a few minutes of a degree separates them from a perfect 180-
degree aspect. Chiron, the Wounded Healer, is also again activated, being an
inconjunct aspect away from the Sun and Moon of less than two degrees. There is
certainly a truckload of trauma to deal with, from Sonoma and Napa counties
here, to Houston, the Florida coast, Puerto Rico and even Hollywood. Scandals
shake the film industry and our nations capital. We need to ask, what is the higher
meaning of all this emphasis on both Uranus and Chiron? It is nothing less than the
commitment to greater consciousness on the part of each one of us, as we are
challenged to rise above the trauma in order to more fully understand the truth of
our human situation, our individual and deeply-held values, and our ability to
absorb the lessons of these terrible and beautiful times.

Several other important aspects support these same themes. Saturn precisely trine
to Eris highlights both the new planet beyond Pluto as a serious and committed
factor in these interesting days that we are all living through, and also supports a
conservative holding back from the full-on progressive initiatives that are the
prerogative of powerfully emphasized Uranus. There is in general a huge polarity
between conservative bordering on reactionary policies and advocates versus
a resurgent progressive movement, with the peace and love values of the sixties.
This is quite appropriate for this decade of Uranus with Pluto, building on their
conjunction at that earlier timing fifty years ago. The lesson here is transformation,
the massive cultural shift that we are all experiencing and as well the deep-seated
individual changes that are becoming more and more obvious in our personal lives.

We also find Mercury in close quintile with Pluto, further highlighting the
consciousness of major change going down, and supporting Jupiter in Scorpio,
another surrogate for strong Pluto and the implicit cultural shifts that accompany
this transformational and evolutionary energy.

Uranus is also precisely semi-square to Neptune, highlighting the essentially

spiritual nature of these times, while Jupiter is closing in on a tight septile
with Saturn. This little-known minor aspect has its dark and twisted side, as is fitting
for this period in our society, with difficult emotions to be handled and difficult
situations brought to light such as the sexual harassment scandals rocking
Hollywood. Jupiter with Saturn reflects that we indeed find ourselves at a
significant cultural milestone at the ending of this crossroads year of a pivotal
decade in Western history.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon is interesting. For the 27th degree of Libra,
we find this symbol of hope: An airplane hovering overhead. This is a fairly clear
metaphor for keeping our minds affixed to the highest possible perspective. Marc
Edmund Jones references, the psychological maturity of humankind on the ideal
side of life the imaginative resourcefulness of character which makes [one]
immortal. He goes on to extol high effectiveness in self-adjustment, a real skill in
meeting the crises of life. Indeed, as these fractious times for our society make
very evident, the highest is what we must all aspire to, if we do not want to
participate in its demise.