In recent weeks most attention has been focused on early Gemini, as Mercury stationed direct there several days ago. You may still be noticing the retrograde effect — for some, it’s more palpable in the days and weeks after the retrograde ends.
Photo by Eric Francis.
Now late Gemini is the focus. Tuesday the Moon and Sun form a conjunction there, also called the New Moon. Under some circumstances the New Moon has a quiet intensity or none at all, though the current aspect pattern describes many situations that are on the move.
On Sunday, Mars and the Sun formed a conjunction or exact alignment with the Earth, and with Mars moving at close to the speed of the Sun, they will be aligned for a while, including during Tuesday’s New Moon. So really this is a triple conjunction, with plenty of energy behind it.
Part of that energy is coming from across the sky in Sagittarius. The Moon, Sun and Mars are opposite the Galactic Core — that is, the supermassive black hole that binds together the Milky Way, where we live. This can feel like an invisible wave rising, and describe some event that has a wide and sweeping influence.
I think of the GC as having a spiritualizing effect, serving as a kind of homing signal and connection to a very wide perspective not normally available while staring at a row of buildings or gas pumps. The GC whispers that we are part of something larger, and again larger than that.
With Mars and the Sun in this pattern, we have the image of an alternative to anger — and a hint as to what is at the root of anger: alienation from oneself. That alone may not be enough to help, without plenty of awareness and some sense that there’s any option.
Many other planets form aspects simultaneously around the New Moon, picking up its influence directly. They’re all worth mentioning, though for now I’ll describe two in particular. In late Sagittarius opposite the New Moon is a centaur planet, Pholus. It’s the second centaur, the one associated with the uncontainable release of energy. Mars seems to provoke Pholus to spontaneously cut loose.
But what quality is it possessing? In Sagittarius it seems like a condenser for whatever may be emanating from the Galactic Core.
Pallas Athene, an asteroid, is also in the mix. Typically Pallas involves political issues, and this will likely be expressed in news events through the week. Even in the current extremely weird environment of political breakdown, we could see some genuine weirdness.
I think there’s something else going on below the surface, which is overt sexual frustration. The first clue is Pallas Athene, which says “sexless” like few things can.
I am beyond overjoyed that there are some people who seem to be able to, and have occasion to, express themselves sexually on a regular basis. But I don’t think that describes most of the population. By a diversity of indicators (cultural obsession with sexual violence rather than pleasure, nonstop scandals, sense of alienation, fear, paranoia about disease, twerking, etc.), the frustration level is in the overload zone.
Right in the mix of this supercharged aspect pattern we also find Cupido, Magdalena, Eros and Aphrodite. Arachne weaves the whole scenario together as if it’s one cohesive story, stitched into everything — into all social interactions.
Since anyone who points out the sexual tension in society is at risk for being seen as someone who doesn’t get enough sex, it’s not an especially popular topic to bring up. It’s just you after all. Everyone else just had an orgasm five minutes ago. To me it feels like a massive collective fart with all of society holding its breath.
There is, however, little we can do about sex or sexual tension on the collective level, as the glamour act and shadow wars leave little room for anything creative or friendly. Resolution seems possible only on the person-to-person scale. So if you’re consciously holding out for some reason you know in truth makes no sense, give yourself and the world a break and let in a little fresh air.
Yeah, it’d be easy to say, ‘Eric’s not getting laid, that’s what this means’, after reading this piece. I take issue however, with the ‘hip’ notion that when someone points out a societal issue, that they are projecting their own stuff on to society. Everybody’s so hip these days, they have no issues like sexual frustration to deal with.Yeah, right, ok, but no.
Huh, what? I’m still falling into the feeling of the Galactic Core………talk about an orgasm….
This is an issue that’s coming very much to the fore in my case. I don’t like to talk about it, in part because I’m a typically British, private person, but also due to my early programming that I don’t matter.
However, this New Moon/GC opposition is going to fall right along my MC-Venus/IC-Neptune axis, so I’m not likely to get away with my self-repression much longer. It’s been a tough road. After years of therapy I have just now begun to realise that I have actual desires and a valid if unattractive and neglected body.
To think this site is now providing a space in which I can make this confession usefully – I am more grateful than words can express.
Cheers to you, Amy. And hugs, too!
You go girl!
“You may still be noticing the retrograde effect — for some, it’s more palpable in the days and weeks after the retrograde ends.”
Since my Moon, ASC, MC and Venus are in mutable planets, the retrograde peaked June 5th when my car and two others were totaled in a freak accident (lucky I was not in the car at the time). Though the settlement came in record time the Friday after the station, it seems that we’re having trouble finding my vehicle replacement. Can I say I am living the Retrograde Effect at full force and in the most literal and physical of ways?
Goodness, Fe, I hope things work out all right for you.
Chiron in Pisces square this Sun (Will) Moon (Feel) Mars (Desire) alignment can be part of the answer – maybe the anger and angst is first from an alienation from our self and we are to find that healing with/within our self first; then we can share it with others. I learned so much about sexual repression in our society by reading Michel Foucault’s History of Sexuality – In the first pages of Volume 1 he correlates the development of capitalism in the 17th century with that repression, so efforts toward removing oneself from that influence – “I feel crappy; hey, wait, looky at that new thing, I’ll buy it and feel better!” – is an obviously necessary part. Kinda tough in our media-laden existence (except for the pages of Planet Waves – thank you!) but – considering the covert power structure used in the selling of the construct of ‘sex’ itself can be just mind-boggling! I recommend his books, he explains it much better than I can.
Personally, I feel the impending Cancer Solstice and find that this time of the year, when the evenings are warm and the daylight lasts so long, is when I want to be outdoors and watch the day turn to twilight and then night, the stars and planets popping out, on a blanket in a field. I am lucky enough to have a partner to share this with, who understands my need to dance naked and feel the breeze and joins me; lucky enough to live where the neighbors are far apart, and even luckier to live by a grove of trees that tower above us and look down like parents gazing at an infant in the crib, their roots below cradling us. Away from the electrical and magnetic resonance of wifi and cell phones and microwave ovens, we can receive the next transmission from the Galactic Core (conjunct my Ascendant).
Venus and Jupiter are approaching their conjunction, too, a very happy and beautiful influence. If only the weather will cooperate and deliver a cloudless sky….
You are so fortunate!
Eric: Thank you for bringing up alternatives to anger. Especially where an opposition aspect is operative, there are indeed alternatives implied. Thank you additionally for pointing out that the most fundamental alternative is a creative act, and that among the most efficacious creative acts is an overtly and intentionally sexual act (of which there are a number to choose from)
Fe: Glad you were not in the accident. Hope your replacement car appears soon.
Kathi: Thank you for bringing Michel Foucault – a truly original and innovative thinker about many things (in addition to sexuality).
Another book to add to the wish list…
mmm, well, rather a lot happening at 24+ Gemini in my natal…
…sapphires, the ones in high-power radio-frequency (RF) applications, cell ‘phones, public-safety band radios, and satellite communication systems, yep – satellites…
…had a good sleep though, five hours deep dreamless…
…plan for seeing out this retrograde phase? relax, focus and back to work!
but Pallas conjunct Orius! Isn’t that insigth into being fully in the body and soul?
or consciously integrated, body and soul