The towering presence and unparalleled majesty of many (if not most) of the largest trees started from the smallest of seeds. Similarly, many (if not most) of the greatest and most inspiring people in history arose, and continue to rise, from prosaic places and common circumstances.
There is something reassuring about those who start from the bottom and work their way up through the ranks. They give you faith both in them and in yourself.
Additionally, those who have emerged from little privilege to assume great responsibility are often more fully capable of respecting and appreciating both the struggle and nobility of an ordinary life.
There were times when the astrologers of antiquity claimed to foretell the emergence of either great personalities or great nations. Unfortunately, many (if not most) of the specific forecasting techniques used by those astrologers of old were not preserved for us to deconstruct and test now.
To cite just one case, we still cannot be certain of exactly what it was that the legendary three wise men from the east saw in the sky that guided them to be present with presents for what was recorded to be an exceptional (albeit humble) birth.
It requires only a slightly imaginative and optimistic application of basic astrological principles, however, to anticipate something substantial emerging from humble beginnings this week. While it’s a complex picture, a lot of it has to do with the Moon and Mars.
Based on the qualitative (and hence subjective) astrological guidelines called essential dignities, tomorrow’s New Moon in Scorpio represents a new lunar cycle starting in a rather low place. That’s because Scorpio is on the opposite side of both the zodiac and the sky from Taurus.
To use astrologer’s lingo, Taurus is where the Moon is said to be exalted, which is another way of saying ‘powerful’. Logically, and reflecting the cycles of human experience, the other side of power is referred to by astrologers as being ‘in fall’.
Anybody who has learned to walk knows from an early age what it means to fall. As you grow, falling (whether symbolically or actually) continues to be part of living and learning. Whenever you get either literally or metaphorically off balance, a stumble is almost sure to follow. Yet, unless a debilitating injury results from a fall, the experience nearly always results in your becoming something greater and more stable than before.
Originating from the humility that accrues, falling makes you wiser. From that wisdom, in turn, comes a more competent and more worthy you. So it is that a lunar cycle starting with the Moon briefly sharing the same degree of Scorpio with the Sun tomorrow can only give rise to something better than the time and circumstances of your life when that cycle begins.
Much the same can be said for Mars entering Libra on Thursday. That’s because Libra is on the opposite side of the zodiac and sky from Aries, where Mars is said to rule.
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While ruling is not precisely the same as exaltation for astrologers, the general idea of a position and time of power still applies. By the same token, the sign opposing a planet’s rulership is where that object is said to be ‘in detriment’.
While being in detriment is not precisely the same as being in fall, the sense is similar. When a planet is in detriment, it is very much like a person born into poverty rather than privilege. It is not necessarily the beginning of a hopeless and hapless life. On the contrary, a planet in detriment, much like a person of humble birth, has only one place to go: up.
So it will be for all that Mars correlates with in your life upon its ingress to Libra. Your energy, your desires, your ego drive and your ambitions (all of which correspond to Mars) will implicitly be positioned to rise like a rocket after Thursday — provided you do not conduct yourself so as to blow up on the launching pad.
All of which is to say that the astrology of this week is not in any way bad news for anything but (possibly) your pride. If you can simply refrain from putting on haughty airs and manage to stay off the proverbial high horse, any falls or detriments will be behind you sooner rather than later. What the astrology of this week actually augurs is a need to be humble for a little while, in order to promptly arise as something truly worthy of greatness.
Lunar cycles last but a month, giving rise to the inherent promise of yet another beginning. In addition, Mars will emerge from its relatively brief tenure in Libra less than two months from now, to reprise its implied glory in Scorpio.
Scorpio, you see, is the other sign (besides Aries) where Mars and the sheer force of your will, to which it corresponds, can powerfully exert as a ruler in wise and wonderful ways. But first, you must make the most of every chance you get to derive benefit from what astrology indicates will be a rather promising experience with humility through the remainder of this year.
Offered In Service
I have noticed the Sun is very quiet before it is set to be repositioned in the New cycle.
Personally the Sun is hardly visible opposite Natal Jupiter @ 20+ Taurus high in my 8th. Humility of conciousness I have, and is currently greatly felt in (0) lack.. yet lives along with the knowledge from experience, of the release leads to the completness that is innate, and of that you speak. And, when thinking on all you’ve said Len, humility must be today, in order that Mars will move forward in compassionate (rightful) action, tomorrow and in his continuing.
We truely are being led towards a benevolent new light and energy!
P. Sophia: Thank you for once again commenting so cogently and thoughtfully, extending my humble service into considerations and subject matter i would not be able to explore alone. Thank you also for being among the light-bringing leaders you cite. Never fear, for the Sun will be felt once again. The absence you have been alert enough to note, and kind enough to share here is but (to paraphrase Joni Mitchell) a function of the time of year and the time of humanity.
“To cite just one case, we still cannot be certain of exactly what it was that the legendary three wise men from the east saw in the sky that guided them to be present with presents for what was recorded to be an exceptional (albeit humble) birth.”
It has always intrigued me to know what happened to all that gold, frankincense and myrrh once the Magi had presented it. It must have been like winning the lottery for this humble carpenter and his wife. Were they the only human residents who sheltered in the stable because there was no room at the inn, and if so were they able to maintain anonymity? Or did they share it with other members of the community stabled with them? It has always seemed odd to me that the Bible does not tell what this humble family did with their new-found wealth and princely belongings.
Good question, Geoff. Thank you. Speaking only for myself, i would give up any chance to know about the fate of the wealth if i could see the astrology and the sky as The Magi saw them.
I’ve looked at the positions of the planets around the period 4 BC to 4 AD and nothing really extraordinary seems to compute. I would guess they were following a comet which may have been evaporated by a close encounter with the Son.
Barbara (be), Pisces Sun, abc123, Cowboyiam, Mary, wandering_yeti, Lizzy and Amanda: Please accept my humble apology for not properly acknowledging your thoughtful, provocative and generous comments to my blogs last week. Things got quite “hairy” from the Monday get-go in more ways than i can enumerate here. Please know that you are never taken for granted and always deeply appreciated.
Right on time… *WHEW. Thanks Len, again.
Tug: You are most welcome.
Mars will come prostrate to the Sun in Scorpio and why not genuflect and observe in humility for “there are a thousand ways to kiss the ground,” offers the Sufi Poet Rumi. When you have spent so much time above the earth looking down all the while doing without time for pause and reflection, your perspective can’t help but become skewed.
Humility, in my vernacular, carries compassion and presence. It is a stilling. Mars, the planet of action must quiet itself to “be still and know.” When offering that stillness, Mars can join humanity and become one in its presence and know what it must do. It can channel its action when it later is exalted in Scorpio. For now, how can it have balance in Libra when it enters thinking it “knows” the plan? Ha! There is no plan! Mars could not know that for Mars believes there is a plan and is aimlessly doing, all full of exuberance and full of knowledge of only himself! It makes me think of the childrens book by Hannah Hatfield and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, “Where the Wild Things Are,” of Max (Mars) in his Wolf Suit. But even in that book is a classic line spoken: “Be Still!”
Mars will quiet himself and refrain from doing and start being. Once Mars has quieted into being, Mars can innately know what to do when it enters Scorpio.
Thank you Pisces Sun – your expression helped my Mars self understand what I can do, or not!, to make contact with this opportunity.