Tides and Times: Imbolc to Ostara, 2009

Cardinal solar ingress charts – charts cast for the moment the Sun reaches 0 degrees of a Cardinal sign, or the solstice and equinox points – have been used for centuries to predict events of public importance. As a Wiccan, I celebrate the Solstices and Equinoxes, along with their midpoints – 15 degrees of Fixed signs – as part of the 8-spoked Wheel of the Year.

Our holidays are celebrated as times of energetic shift and change, and the astrological points they mark have been considered power points of the Zodiac in both modern and ancient astrology.

So I decided to take a look at a chart cast for the moment of the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, the astronomical marker of the holiday we celebrate as Imbolc. I wondered if the solar ingress charts for the Solstice/Equinox midpoints – always 15 degrees of a Fixed sign – might be useful for prediction over the following 6 weeks or so, until the Sun again comes to a Cardinal ingress point.

Looking at the chart for Imbolc as a reading for the 6 weeks between now and the Spring Equinox here in America, (cast for February 3, 2009, 11:48 a.m., Washington, D.C., ascendant 28 Taurus 02) the eye is inexorably drawn to the busy 10th house with the degree of the recent solar eclipse right at the MC and Jupiter in tight conjunction. All eyes will be on our new president, who will – probably with some notable success – continue to raise expansive hopes for the future, speaking with great authority (and undoubtedly with some war-like rhetoric) about practical actions that must be taken to get our country back on track (Mars in Capricorn in the 9th conjunct the MC and at the midpoint of Mercury/MC).

But behind the visible, Jupiterian/Aquarian “we can do it” flag-waving are some difficult truths that are not going to go away. The midpoint picture of Sun = Jupiter/Neptune along with the North Node conjunct the MC, indicate a lot of public posturing, much of it (deliberately?) misleading, and a concerted effort to keep the public mood hopeful in the face of deception and dissimulation.

But it’s questionable how long the public will continue to buy just the sizzle – they will insist on a bite of the steak. The 10th house Aquarian emphasis, with Uranus in Pisces, in mutual reception with Neptune, indicates that the country’s focus will be riveted on issues of equality, victimization and social justice. The Moon in Taurus – representing the public – is conjunct the Ascendant from the 12th house in a tight square with Neptune. This reinforces the emphasis on practical social issues, and shows a conservative public mood with big, widespread feelings of victimization. The Moon’s square to Neptune indicates a rude awakening to deception and deceptive practices.

The financial situation -- particularly banks, insurance and the stock market -- is emphasized in this chart by the presence of Venus at the Aries Point in tight square to Pluto in Capricorn in the 8th house. Saturn in the 5th disposits Pluto, and is in mutual reception with Mercury ruling the 2nd and the 5th houses. With Jupiter ruling the 8th and placed on the MC, the financial news will be riveting. I expect big moves in the markets, possibly with a dramatic change within a few days of the time Venus goes retrograde, on March 6th.

This chart also has Saturn and Uranus almost exactly in opposition (the exact opposition occurs within 48 hours of this chart). This is the second of five oppositions that happen between November of 2008 and July of 2010. When there is such tension between established structures and the conservative viewpoints of the middle-class (Saturn in Virgo) and a deep, spiritual need for all-encompassing change (Uranus in Pisces), you can be certain that change will happen – big change. In this chart, they are placed in the 5th and 11th houses, ruling the 9th and the 10th.  This is likely to mean that our foreign policy is highlighted, and with Mars and Mercury conjunct in Capricorn in the 9th, talk of war and aggression is likely. Critical days will be February 13th, when Mars hits the eclipse point, and the MC of this chart, and the 24th, when it comes to 15 degrees of Aquarius. The likelihood of celebrity scandals/distractions is also high.

People ask me how to navigate these times. My advice is, get practical, and get spiritual. The two, far from being mutually exclusive, must be integrated as the lesson of this Saturn – Uranus opposition. Figure out what really matters to you on a Soul level (hint: it’s not a big-screen TV), and then figure out how to make what matters to you take precedence in your practical, day to day life.

I’ll revisit these predictions in a few weeks, and post an update, either here or possibly on a blog I’m considering starting. Your thoughts and comments are welcome. You can contact me here.