Eclipses are always an interesting time from an Astrological perspective, and this last set is no exception. What makes it even more interesting this go around is when the lunar eclipse aligned.
When this last partial lunar eclipse occurred, on 26th June AEST at around 9:30PM, the Sun was 4 degrees Cancer with the Moon in its exact opposite position in Capricorn. At the same time, a T square formed with Uranus in 0 degrees Aries, opposing Saturn in 28 degrees Virgo. Pluto completes the T in 4 degrees of Capricorn. This is called an Ingress T square because two of the three planets have moved into a Cardinal sign. Add the Sun and Moon conjunct Pluto and we have a very powerful and explosive Grand Cross.
I read an article in the Federation of Australian Astrologer’s magazine the week before, written by my former teacher Ed Tamplin. His observations on the subject intrigued me. I wanted to observe any upcoming events closer to home for the following week. And what an interesting week it turned out to be – a week that nobody could really have foreseen!
The week in question saw the very sudden, very public, ousting of Kevin Rudd as Australia’s prime minister. It had been well publicised the crises in the Labor Party due to the dissatisfaction of Rudd’s leadership, amongst other things. His deputy, Julia Gillard, had been given backing by various factions from both Labor and the Coalition, undermining Rudd’s leadership – despite stating that she was still loyal as his deputy.
This is an example of what can unfold when powerful planets like the ones mentioned form such aspects. Let’s break this down to get a better idea of who the players are in this Grand Cross. We have Saturn, who represents form, structure, boundaries and authority. Opposing Saturn is Uranus, representing upheavals, sudden change and challenging the status quo. Squaring the both of them is Pluto, who is about the tearing down of ideals and structures in order to rebuild. With Saturn, we saw Kevin Rudd in the highest authority of ruling a country after being elected by the people. With Uranus, we saw growing dissatisfaction with members of parliament questioning whether Rudd was ruling the country properly. The Sun and Moon will intensify matters on a personal and emotional level. There were endless questions in regards to the refugee “problem”, the mining tax, and the back-flip that was taken on climate change. The status quo and the leadership was being challenged amidst this growing dissatisfaction. Pluto was played out by the rug being pulled out from beneath Kevin Rudd’s feet – the tall poppy has been torn down from his pedestal to make way for the promise of something new. Only time will tell as to whether this promise will actually deliver.
There is another planet involved in this Grand Cross that I haven’t mentioned until now. Jupiter has moved into the ingress sign of Aries and at the time of the eclipse Grand Cross, it was sitting at 2 degrees, conjunct Uranus. Jupiter is about optimism, networking on a larger scale, and in the case of Julia Gillard, it was about backing the best horse that will win the race, so to speak. Her supporters promised their backing but we may also see a hidden agenda. Questions may already have been asked along the lines of: “Who is actually running this country? What’s in it for everyone else?”
Any day now – at least if we assume the rumours to be true – Julia Gillard will announce an election day, giving the public their choice in who governs the country. Public opinion is divided and it will be a very close election indeed.
It’s been seen recently, to great dismay, how the powers that be seem to be clamping down even more so on individual rights and civil liberties. It’s also been seen how people aren’t allowed to live as they should like to live. For example, religious differences make for walking through a multitude of minefields. There is always the suggestion in regards to not only what the best religion is, but how it should be practised.
This Grand Cross could indicate just how fed up people are with being told what to do – by the establishment (with whom corruption is rife) who would rather tell people what to say but not practise it themselves, by friends and family who have expectations which differ from the individual, by work colleagues and even by perfect strangers. What it could also indicate is how prepared people are in wanting to stand up for themselves. It’s clear that there is a lot of unhappiness in this world, and there is a sniff of rebellion in the air – whether it’s on a world scale or among smaller communities, the sentiment is the same.
These matters have been brewing for a great deal of time and this eclipse Grand Cross is simply bringing this out in the open for all to see. On yet another level, there are major life changing events for people, and there isn’t an awful lot of say in these events occurring. How each person deals with these situations as they arise is of their own choosing.
Everyone will be affected in some way by this alignment of planets, although it will be even more so for people who are born in the Ingress signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn as there are hard aspects in the way of squares and oppositions that manifests in their horoscopes.
Two weeks after the Lunar Eclipse, there was a total Solar Eclipse which would herald new beginnings. People would set about thinking what they want to release from their lives in order to make room for the new and how to go about implementing these beginnings.
The Sun and Moon have since moved on and the other planets have had their alignment reverted to the T square – at least for the time being. The T square will be in effect for some time to come yet and it will bring about many interesting changes. Towards the end of the year, the personal planets of Mercury and Venus will aspect to form a series of Grand Crosses, and there is another lunar eclipse on 21st December – at the time of the Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. This eclipse will see the full Moon axis of Sagitarrius/Gemini. These two planets will once again feature to form a Grand Cross with the power players of Saturn, Uranus and Pluto.
These personal planets will bring about a different set of dynamics and a different set of attitudes when they align. The sayings “Hold on to your hats” or “Flying by the seat of your pants” would be a most apt description during these testing times. I sign off with this quote below, from the Sabian Oracle, as I thought to be rather appropriate.
A CAMEO PROFILE OF A MAN IN THE OUTLINE OF HIS COUNTRY
There is a growing, objective awareness of how you fit into the larger picture. You may find you are participating in or have a more important role than you previously thought. Imprinting one's mark. Becoming an exemplar of one's tradition and culture. Try not to become too identified with externals or seeking recognition from the populace. Observing one's limitations. If negative - blindly following the dogma of government or officials. Stereotyping one's self or others.
