Motion, Midpoints and the Moon

Posted by Len Wallick

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Len Wallick walks you through the Sun’s approach to the midpoint of Taurus (and the season) and the Moon’s approach to the midpoint of Scorpio (creating the Full Moon). He caps things off with a simple exercise and some questions to help you embody the astrology — including Jupiter’s expansive influence in the middle.

The Moon entered tropical Libra earlier today. It will move on to Scorpio as Saturday segues into Sunday. Then, as Sunday transitions into Monday, the Moon will have moved far enough into Scorpio to oppose the Sun (which has been moving in Taurus, the sign opposite Scorpio, since April 20) for a Full Moon.

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This particular Scorpio Full Moon will be especially suited to help you literally grasp how motion in the sky matches motion on the zodiac circle, in the world and in your life.

Every Full Moon is the midpoint between New Moons. A New Moon is when the Sun and Moon briefly share the same degree of the same zodiac sign while moving through the sky alongside each other. That last happened back on April 18 with the New Moon in Aries.

You can’t see the Moon when it is moving through the sky alongside the Sun during a New Moon. In contrast, Full Moons are easy to see because the Moon is on the opposite side of the sky reflecting the Sun. That’s a direct correspondence to the Sun and Moon in opposing signs on the zodiac.

If weather permits, it will be worth watching both the Sun and Moon beginning with sunset this evening and for every night through the weekend. If you can do that, you will be able to actually see what it means for the luminaries to move into opposition at the midpoint of their cycle.

With a little imagination and some help from Jupiter, you will also be able to see with your own eyes and understand in your own body the solar and lunar motion through their respective tropical signs.

The Sun is now setting one to two minutes later every night in the Northern Hemisphere and a minute or two earlier every evening South of the equator. No matter where on Earth you are, the Sun is also setting a little farther North on the Western horizon at the end of every day.

Additionally, the Sun is approximately (not precisely, but close enough) at a midpoint of its own. Back on March 20, no matter where on Earth you were, the Sun was setting precisely to the West. That was the vernal equinox, when the tangible Sun was directly over the equator and the symbolic Sun was entering Aries on the zodiac.

Today the tangible Sun will be setting about halfway between precisely West and as far North on the Western horizon as it will ever get. Correspondingly, we are about halfway between an equinox and a solstice, and near the midpoint between seasons. In correlation, the symbolic Sun is about halfway through Taurus on the zodiac, at the midpoint between the first degree of Aries and the first degree of Cancer.

Should you watch the Sun go down over the next several nights, tell yourself “this is what the middle of solar Taurus looks like every year.” Then, ask yourself how it feels. You might sense an enhanced connection with the Earth. You could even experience a more visceral bond with life itself. What your body answers will give you a connection with and appreciation for what astrology tells you about the Sun at the midpoint of Taurus. Then, astrology will cease to be only abstract — it will become at least a bit more real. 

It is not every year that the Moon opposes the Sun in the middle of solar Taurus, but you can watch it move into opposition over the next several nights. Begin tonight. After you have finished watching the sunset, when it gets dark enough for the stars to become visible, look to the East. The waxing Moon will already be significantly above the Eastern horizon because it rose before sunset. Note the time.

Tomorrow night, the Moon will rise about an hour later and be correspondingly lower in the sky as compared to the same time tonight. On Saturday night, the Moon will rise approximately an additional hour later yet. On Sunday night Moon will be rising at about the same time the Sun is setting.

What you will in fact be watching as the Moon rises later every night is the Moon moving through Libra and into Scorpio. That’s the symbolic translated into the real. That will be your real-world correspondence with the symbolic Moon taking about two and a half days to move through a sign on the zodiac. It will be your in-the-body experience of the Moon moving into the midpoint of its cycle with the Sun even as the Sun is moving into the midpoint between seasons.

That does not happen every year. That is what will make this particular Scorpio Full Moon special. That, and Jupiter near the midpoint of Leo.

To make the Scorpio Full Moon even more special, Jupiter will be visible at the midpoint between the opposing luminaries. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, after spotting the Moon tonight, look straight up, then slightly South. Jupiter will be the steady (non-twinkling) light brighter than any star. It will correspond to tropical Leo being the sign halfway between Taurus and Scorpio. Then, you will have a representation of half the zodiac circle before your very eyes.

By Sunday, you will be able to point one hand at the setting Sun and say “Taurus, illuminated by the Sun in what I see.” You will then be able to point your other hand at the rising Moon and say “Scorpio, reflected by the Moon in what I feel.” With your hands thus extended, you will then be able to look up with the perfect bodily posture to embrace what Jupiter is all about and say “Here’s a hug!”

After several nights of observing the Sun and Moon moving toward their respective midpoints, Sunday night should be a very special experience. While in your posture of embracing Jupiter even as your hands are physically extended towards the opposing luminaries, take a moment and think about your relationship to each corresponding point in the sky and where your life, and the world, is in relation to it all.

Ask yourself, “What is rising?” “What is setting?” What is at its highest point?” and finally, “What is halfway through?” Allow your answers to convey astrology off the page and into your life. Words at that point will not be necessary. In and through your body, this Scorpio Full Moon will allow you to understand its meaning precisely because you will be standing under it with awareness and (hopefully) appreciation. 

Offered In Service                   

Len is available for astrology readings. You can contact him at lenwallick [at] gmail [dot] com.

Posted in Columnist on | 23 comments
Len Wallick

About Len Wallick

Besides endeavoring to be of service to all of you here at Planet Waves, Len strives to live in Seattle while working as a professional astrologer. To contact him for an astrology reading you can send an e-mail to: lenwallick@gmail.com. His telephone number is 206-356-5467. In addition to his profession, Len contributes to the Seattle community without monetary compensation by serving as a Reiki practitioner and teacher through classes and outreach offered by the Seattle Reiki Mastery Series modality.

23 thoughts on “Motion, Midpoints and the Moon

  1. Bette

    Len, what a wonderful lesson in connecting the astrology to the sky we see! One of the joys of living in a rural village is that I get to see most of the sky, weather permitting, & it’s wonderfully grounding & illuminating to know where to look (for Jupiter, say, or Venus) because I follow astrology. It’s easy to fall into the habit of seeing astrology as abstract: ephemerides & aspects etc. Your post today reminds us of how profoundly it connects us to our literal planetary & cosmic home.

    The parallels to my own life merit more reflection. Mercury enters my 12th at the beginning of Gemini – not a bad time for said reflection, I’m thinking. The full moon will be within orb of my natal 5th house moon; I’m staying tuned for the creative, should my muse, who seems to have been on vacation lately, drop in.

    Happy, fruitful Beltane full moon to all in the PW community.

  2. Barbara Koehler

    Gracious Len, “. . astrology will cease to be only abstract – it will become at least a bit more real.” This business of being in the middle, or between two opposing points (times, spaces, views, planets) is a powerful experience isn’t it? I recently had an experience like that and can testify to what you are saying here.

    I did a solar return study for someone I’ve known for over 20 years, a Taurus Sun person, and this year, transiting Pluto was setting off his natal fixed Grand Cross for the final time, which I believed would be a relief for him to hear/read. His cross is made up of Chiron in Capricorn, Uranus in Cancer, Mercury in Aries and Saturn in Libra. Here’s one of my notoriously long, rambling sentences written for him. “Chiron symbolizes healing & wounding, Mercury symbolizes communicating & information, as well as neighbors & kids, Saturn represents control, business, containment & fathers, & Uranus symbolizes breakthroughs, rebellion, freedom & anything that shocks or surprises.” Most of what I wrote about his solar return had to do with aspects made between his SR chart and his natal chart.

    An added bonus was that on his birthday (and for several days around that date) transiting Isis and transiting Osiris were conjunct at 5+ Leo and opposite transiting Ceres at 5+ Aquarius, putting his natal Sun at 5+ Taurus “in the middle”, or as we would call it a fixed T-square. As he is a gardener (makes jams and wine from fruit as well), I focused on the agriculture nature of Ceres and Isis/Osiris. Little did I know at the time I wrote it that his son had committed suicide 5 months earlier. His daughter would clue me in to that after I’d already given him the write-up.

    How I came to mention that (in his grand cross) Mercury symbolized kids and that Saturn symbolized fathers (that normally doesn’t come to mind immediately) baffles me, but I’m so glad I did. That I only mentioned one of the two most important things that Ceres symbolizes can be attributed to what I knew of his interests and limited time. His natal Ceres at 27 Aries conjuncts his natal Jupiter at 29 Aries, putting this month’s New Moon smack in the middle between them.

    In light of the U.S. (latest) tragedy, I must not be the only person watching the movements of Ceres, noting her “loss of child to the underworld” and how the U.S natal Ceres was recently been joined by transiting Neptune (now conjunct U.S. Nessus). In Sunday’s Scorpio Full Moon, Ceres will be conjunct the U.S South Node (6+ Aquarius) and Pholus (6+ Aquarius), opposite the U.S. North node (6+ Leo) and square the U.S. natal Salacia at 6+ Taurus. We are all caught in the middle with something obscene, aren’t we?
    be

  3. chief niwot's sonchief niwot's son

    In giving attention and consideration to this upcoming lunation on Beltane, Len, you have plugged me into a timeless contemplation of the the large cycles of time. How often has Beltane come upon the Earth? This Beltane is illuminated, and so it illuminates the long cycles that return again, each bringing their keynote and energy, their place within the waxing and waning so perfect. And with a Jovial companion, this years Beltane promises so much more.

  4. Cowboyiam

    Len – there you go again….. speaking what words cannot convey. It is the felt astrology you bring to the fore, and that always stretches me. I will really try to feel what you are trying to show me. I know it will be a healing experience if I connect with what you are showing me. I will try. Thank you.

  5. JereJere

    Here’s a hug man! Brilliant!

    I’ve been watching the Moon over the last several days (and Jupiter too), seeing if I can’t call it’s degree. I’ve been pretty right on, I’m one of those cats who can measure the sky by ‘looking’ (constellation of Scorp. has been insightful as well, being quite visible).

    I feel as if I’ve almost too much energy.. Deep breaths, steady action,.. focusing on personal contribution (to myself, and others’),.. It feels really good for getting there (wherever there is and despite the global/social cluster-fuck goin’ down).

    I’ve had a mantra I’ve been trying to keep up on for a while now: good food, good work, and correct thought.

    You are a light my friend,

    Love,

    Jere

  6. aWord

    How lovely to be a human mid-point as it were!
    Be, so much to learn each time you speak!
    Jere – it’s HOT here in SC today too. What’s up?
    Chief, thank you for your add-ons!
    xo to all, as always — thank you Len for holding out this space for us.

  7. Barbara Koehler

    aword, thanks. Apparently I was too harsh regarding Salacia, as something obscene. She seems (from what other astrology-types have published) to have more to do with the evolutionary process. Her discovery degree (13+ Pisces) has the Sabian Symbol of A Lady Wrapped In A Large Stole Of Fox Fur, seen as a protective device (cunning perhaps) when threatened by danger or loss.

    At this time (the Scorpio Full Moon), in this place (the USA), in the placement of the U.S. Sibly chart (T-square the nodes), and in between the transiting Isis/Osiris (conjunct U.S. north node) and transiting Ceres (conjunct the U.S. south node) the U.S. Salacia means something entirely different.

    Salacia’s connotation of water, and her discovery degree’s connotation of protection through cunning, might symbolize the numerous efforts to heal the emotions of individuals who have lost sons vs. re-constructing (re-think the) rules of law, and as well the public’s use of natural waters vs. industry’s production of food for profit.

    Transiting Salacia is in fact in the last degree of the last sign of the zodiac. The Sun was conjunct Jupiter at 29+ Virgo at the time of her discovery (September 22, 2004). Might not this full-moon-like moment for her signify a period of truth (Jupiter) and consciousness (Sun) regarding the healing process (Virgo) and the need to overcome polarization? So sorry Salacia, for misjudging you because of your name. Forgive me.
    be

  8. P. SophiaP. Sophia

    Thank you Len. Really beautiful how it all connects and works. Especially nice to hear, in your simplicity of saying. To get my barrings for Sunday, I looked up to all the positions and planets at dusk tonight. Instantly, I saw a shooting star from Venus heading right into Taurus. It was a good sight, and the thought resulting.

    Hope the Full Moon sends you loving messages Len!

  9. Michael MayesMichael Mayes

    The beauty of this exercise is that it can be done at any time. Obviously the positions of the planets and luminaries will keep moving (except the sun of course, but relative to us it looks to be moving through the zodiac), appearing & disappearing in the sky in accordance with their respective cycles. But with a little imagination this wonderful exercise can be used at any time to ground, and center ourselves.

  10. Christine Kilavos

    Len
    So beautiful and an experience i feel is starting to move itself into place. Looking forward to more and truly feeling this in my body.

  11. aWord

    Be, so glad for the discussion about Salacia (120347). Natally she is conjunct Mars at 12Cap..and of course she’s about to ingres Aries and onto Aries Point, natal DML and loads of lility/eris/moon action. So protection — even cunning protection — is useful methinks, for a little fish with lots of energy devoted to stirring up and altering the way we perceive feminine wiles — “evolutionary process” rather than the “obscene.”

  12. Len WallickLen Wallick Post author

    Bette: Thank you so very much for your Beltane well wishes and for your affirmation of my service here. Yes, i would say your interpretation of Mercury in your 12th house is spot on. Your take on the Full Moon (as i understand your comment) in your 5th house is likewise resonating well for me (without having at hand the context of the rest of your nativity, at least). May your muse(s) show up in full force to bless you very soon.

    Barbara: Thank you for sharing your instructive (and evocative) example of interpreting a solar return chart. The transits to the US (Sibly) chart you know so very well are also deeply appreciated. To echo your own later comment, i’m not sure Salacia is best employed to represent what’s obscene. After over four years of watching Salacia carefully, my key word thus far is “ambivalent”. One thing for sure, to have one of Salacia’s seldom-seen sign changes coming up should provide some of what Eric calls “proving moment” that might allow me to expand from key word to a deeper grasp of that slow-moving object out there past Pluto. While in anaretic Pisces meantime (the placement of our most recent solar eclipse, no less) we should have plenty to discuss.

    chief niwot’s son: Thank you for sharing your beautiful meditation. May this year’s Beltane be visited upon you so as to return the beauty, grace and wisdom you have always blessed us with here in comments to Planet Waves.

    Cowboy: No need to “try.” No question of “if.” Simply be one with the experience of this Scorpio Full Moon- coherently aware, grounded, and wholly present. You are a child of the Universe no less than any other. Don’t make yourself less for the occasion and the occasion will become more for you. You got this thing. No doubt.

    Jere: And thanks to you, great poet! One thing to remember (in order to avoid confusion) is that stars and constellations are more the field of reference for sidereal astrology. Tropical astrology, on the other hand, employs the Earth and its cycles as the referential “background”. Neither is right or wrong. It’s just a good idea not to mix modalities without some very deep contemplation of how that might be done. May your work in your garden absorb your excess energy and return it with abundance. May your wise mantra serve your wisdom well.

    aWord: Thank you for being so supportive and for your “running” collaboration with Barbara as regards Salacia. Great minds may not always think alike, but your mind in conversation with Barbara’s is certainly showing us even more than the sum of its great parts.

    P. Sophia: Wow! A shooting star! Thank you for sharing that. Thank you ever more fo the spirit of kindness and the open mind you always bring here. May getting your bearing in the sky further your bearings in life.

    Michael: Right you are! Thank you!

    Christine: Thank you! Welcome to Planet Waves! May your motion through life continue to enhance your harmony with the sky.

  13. Len WallickLen Wallick Post author

    i’m sincerely gratified to know the “recipe” (at least my choice of words and phrasing) works for you, Barbara! Thank you for holding space with my service here at Planet Waves.

  14. Barbara

    Hey Len………I think (feel) that all the long…..the “language” being spoken here….meshes with my own……pleasantly surprised for the discovery of that…..the universe is vast…..but the world can fit in the palm of your hand at times…………..I guess that’s where “AWE” begins……..thanks again…..

  15. Pisces SunPisces Sun

    Wow, I always love reading what each of you have said and in such a short amount of time, I am feeling as though I am coming to know each of you. Len, what an amazing description of the dance in the sky between the earth, moon and sun, loved every beautiful, poetic, moment of it. It is marvelous to read you and others descriptive writings. I enjoy looking at the sky and consider its application, tonight you gave me even more to ponder.

    Babara and aWord, your correction and further elucidation about Salacia immediately made me think about the current state of affairs over the senseless deaths of people like Freddie Gray. I have been for quite some time thinking about the mothers who mourn for their sons, and fear for their sons. I watched today the Maryland State prosecutor announce that charges were to be filed against the Baltimore police officers who apprehended Freddie Gray without probable cause and transported him to the city jail, handcuffed and in shackles, in the back of a van, without seatbelt restraint., where Mr. Gray sustained injuries, and where the officers chose not to render any aid. After the State Attorney General’s announcement, I watched interviews followed with two prominent state legislatures, who were grateful to know that the prosecutor was acting on evidence discovered by an independent investigation and moving quickly to trial. Each of those persons were black women: the prosecutor and the legislators. A black women mayor is trying to allow for first amendment marches initially and is/will be in charge of reforming the police department, a black grandmother is in charge of the local NAACP in Baltimore, a black women is now the Attorney General of the U.S. I can’t help but think that the coin has turned, that these grandmothers, mothers and mothers to be, will help bring some justice and healing to their sons, maybe this is the symbol of the fox/cunning?
    Thanks to all for your sharing and expertise, I am learning so much here!

  16. Barbara Koehler

    I think it’s a great association Pisces Sun, between the cunning fox and the mothers, grandmothers and mothers-to-be who protect their young through intelligence and instinct. Thank you for calling it to our attention. Like Judith says today, “if we step back a bit, the picture of our growth becomes a bit clearer – and much more impressive”, and so it is when we are in the middle, like U.S. Salacia is between the past (south node) and the future (north node), we have a greater perspective.

    As Len tells us, when watching the sky while in the middle of Taurus, “you could even experience a more visceral bond with life itself.” The discovery degree of Salacia speaks of protection and cunning, but the transiting Salacia’s present degree of the zodiac, the last degree of Pisces, speaks to “the power of clearly visualized ideals to mold the life of the visualizer”. Pallas is the symbol of creative visualization (perception of whole patterns) and tomorrow’s Scorpio Full Moon finds Pallas at 29+ Sagittarius, square (challenging) Salacia at 29+ Pisces. Moreover, Pallas opposes Venus at 25+ Gemini, which puts transiting Salacia “in the middle” of a T-square, just as she is in the U.S. birth chart, in between the north and south nodes.

    When we all share our thoughts with each other (as you have here) based on intelligent data and visceral senses, we have opportunities to move faster and see through the haze more clearly that path we are all on. The path that takes us away from our sense of separateness and toward a sense of wholeness.
    be

  17. pam

    Be Salacia has been conjunct my sun for the longest time – and for the first time in my life I have experienced inner calm as a day to day default (for the longest time!) – I’m pretty sure it is Salacia – I’m so grateful and hope I’ve ‘fixed’ the calm default for ever…

  18. P. SophiaP. Sophia

    Appreciate it Len.

    By the way, at the time, i want to be clear, I very intentionally, meant to write bar·ing in meaning in my post, (not bearing as you replied to me) ; )

    **Using the transitive verb
    :to make or lay (something) bare :uncover

    And tonight in just now reading Venus’s position at the Full Moon to the Sabian Symbol degree, GEMINI 25°:
    A GARDENER TRIMMING LARGE PALM TREES.
    KEYNOTE: Bringing under control nature’s power of expansion.

    ..I find Venus (as ruler of Taurus), does offer a solution to the Suns position in opposition to this Full Moon. 

    Pruning, cutting off what is not essential, to get to bare reality. As well as, the following degree Venus moves to just following the Full Moon, GEMINI 26 is relevant. Which Dane Rudhyar interprets as, “a step beyond “pruning”; it is rather a process of removal of all superficialities of existence”.

    Thank you wise shooting star, for showing us the way!!

  19. P. SophiaP. Sophia

    Hey Be: Starting to also see here this theme I mentioned of the Swabian Symbol to Venus’ help in clearing out in order to make way for new expansion works in with the Full Moon T Square to Jupiter and all you speak about regarding Pallas’ influence as well…

    (Jupiter is currently exact conjunct Natal Mercury Leo 13+ degrees). Looking forward to tomorrow evening!!

  20. Barbara Koehler

    Pam, I hope so too and thank you for your personal testimony regarding Salacia’s calming effect. P. Sophia alludes to the “clearing out” of the non-essentials that Venus’ position brings to this Full Moon today. I agree with her that it suggests a theme, and maybe we are finally becoming more conscious (through the placements of the feminine symbols in astrology) of an aftermath from all the Uranus-Pluto energy we have endured.

    I say that because when the asteroids Isis and Osiris made their conjunction last Tuesday the chart (when set in Washington DC) had Pluto on the MC and Uranus on the ascendant. If we think of the god and goddess together as a metaphor for balancing yin and yang, their new cycle could symbolize a stage of development toward that end. This god/goddess couple were associated with the agricultural fertility cycle in Egypt and in this chart for their conjunction they are opposed the goddess Ceres who is also associated with all growing things. Taken together they imply better balance in living life must be found.

    Add to that, the Moon was in Virgo, a feminine sign, at the conjunction between Isis and Osiris, and she was square Saturn in Sagittarius, a masculine sign. These mutable signs imply a transition period (Isis-Osiris cycle) where the instinct to feel (feminine energy) is challenging the need for control (masculine energy). While seen as feminine energy (Moon) in Earth (material) and masculine energy (Saturn) in Fire (spiritual), they also represent the signs Cancer and Capricorn, symbolic of The Family vs. The Society. These too must become balanced.

    By being exactly opposite Ceres who is associated with single-parent nurturing, Isis and Osiris would suggest a cycle of more balanced parenting is required for stability. Ceres at 5+ Aquarius is conjunct the U.S south node (6+ Aquarius), a point where development is no longer needed and Isis/Osiris at 5+ Leo is conjunct the U.S. north node a point offering opportunity for development.

    These are subtle influences (Isis, et al), within the greater mandate for change, ie. Uranus (revolution) on the Ascendant and Pluto (transform) on the MC, and yet they can guide us as to how to get started. On the surface we see chaos but on closer examination there are green shoots sprouting all around us. These provide a direction (nodes) for attaining the peace and harmony we desperately yearn for if we are only willing to work together.
    be

  21. pam

    Lovely Be. I looked at a chart this week where the guy has Pallas conjunct his Sun and Aphrodite conjunct his Asc. Isn’t that beautiful as a possible path over a lifetime in terms of feminine energy/comprehension in him?

    (Made me kind of envious with Pallas and Lilith conj my midheaven and kassandra sextile my sun and Dionysius!)

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