Getting Lunar: The Run-Up to This Month's Full Moon... Yours Truly... and *You*

ZZZZ...

So... It's another semi-sleepless predawn morning for yours truly, here in the (Raleighwood-version) run-up to this month's full moon, which happens at 5:21 a.m. (here in the Eastern Time Zone)... 

...when the Moon will be at 7 degrees 5 minutes Cancer (in the 2nd house--the house of resources--of my particular birth chart, I might add ;-) ) ... 

... and when the Sun will be at 7 degrees 5 minutes Capricorn (in my 8th house--the house of instincts). 


AND HOW ABOUT FOR YOU?

And how about for you, wherever in the world *you* are, at the moment?

Have you found yourself (at least semi- ?) "up and at 'em" sooner than usual, in recent hours?  

AND WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT

Which house of your birth chart will the Moon be in, when it's perfectly full, in two or three hours?

And which house will the Sun be in? 

NOTE: See above for the zodiacal positions of both the Moon and the Sun. 

YES, I REALLY MEAN IT

By the way, when I ask such questions like those that I've posed above, I truly would like to hear from you--from any or all of you who are reading this from somewhere out there in Cyberland)... I'm not being rhetorical.

So, as always when I post a new blog entry here, feel free to post your answers to any or all of the questions that I've posed... 

...other comments... 

...your own questions... 

...a great new joke-of-the-day that you've just read (or heard) elsewhere... 

...you name it. :-)

FOR YOUR POSTING PLEASURE: YOUR OPTIONS INCLUDE...

And as is often the case...

For your posting pleasure, your options include both:

(A) posting a comment here (below) 

and / or 

(B) posting same on Facebook

So feel free to double your pleasure (uh, double your posting)... and double your fun.

Save The Date! Mini-Readings in February in Raleigh

Overcome challenges and make the most of life's opportunities, with a little help from astrology and me!


Join me (professional astrologer Paul Habit) at the Body Mind Spirit Expo (BMSE) on Sat., Feb. 23 / Sun., Feb. 24 in Raleigh ...

... and get a mini-reading of your particular birth chart (based on your exact birth time and place).


For general info about BMSE: http://bit.ly/TibNav


I hope to see you there! :-)

Paul

Happy Hanukkah To All Who Celebrate It!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO (LIKE ME)...

... are not all that familiar with Hanukkah... 

According to Wikipedia (at least), it is 

"an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. ...

"The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a unique candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah [i.e., strictly speaking, a nine-branched candelabrum] or Hanukiah, one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. ...

"The dates of Hanukkah are determined by the Hebrew calendar. Hanukkah begins at the 25th day of Kislev [i.e., the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar] and concludes on the 2nd or 3rd day of Tevet [i.e., the fourth month of the civil year and the tenth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar] (Kislev can have 29 or 30 days). The Jewish day begins at sunset, whereas the Gregorian calendar begins the day at midnight. Hanukkah begins on sunset of the date listed.

"December 8, 2012
November 27, 2013
December 16, 2014
December 6, 2015
December 24, 2016
December 12, 2017
December 2, 2018
December 22, 2019
December 10, 2020"

FOR MORE FROM WIKIPEDIA:

About Hanukkah itself: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

*About the Holy Temple: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_in_Jerusalem

*About the Maccabean Revolt: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabean_Revolt

AND HERE'S A LINK TO ONE OF A GAZILLION ARTICLES... 

... available of the Web about the beginning of Hanukkah this year...

(Check out the part about the 100-year-old Holocaust survivor.... WOW.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/jews-around-the-world-start-hanukkah-holiday-with-candle-lighting-potato-pancakes-gifts/2012/12/08/9251e6a4-416b-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html

Helping a Suicidal Person: You Can Do It!

Whew! 

Earlier today, a friend of mine posted a message on Facebook, saying that a Facebook friend of his was probably considering suicide and asking for advice about how to respond. 

My friend added that:

1.  he had set the permission on his post so that his friend couldn't see it, and 

2.  he himself would be indisposed for some unspecified number of hours, and he would be back online after that.

"Hmm...," I thought. "What to do?"

So I took a moment or two to collect my thoughts. 

I thought about everything that I learned from eight years of experience, (as first a volunteer and then as staff at a crisis hotline...

... and then I proceeded to share a fair bit of advice, information, etc.

... in a series of comments...

... comments which I posted, by the way, immediately after other comments which other people had already posted, in reply to my friend's question.

It Was Not, Mind You, Anything Close... 

... to my preferred means of communication about such matters. 

At any rate, what's posted is posted, and my friend replied that he appreciated the responses and found them helpful.

Now That At Least Some of My Mental Dust Has Settled...

I'm wondering:.

Has anyone ever communicated to you, whether in a roundabout way or in just those very words, "I'm thinking about killing myself"? 

If so, what did you do?

If a friend, or a relative, or someone else whom you knew, or even a stranger...

... said to you today (in effect)...

..."I'm thinking about killing myself." ...

... what do you think you'd do?

For Information About What You Can Do to Help a Suicidal Person

If and whenever someone says to you (in effect) "I'm thinking about killing myself," know that there are concrete steps that you can take to respond to that person.

There are specific steps that you can take that can both help that person and (not so unimportantly) help you feel more confident in your ability to help that person.    

To find out exactly what you can do to help a suicidal person:

1.  Go to http://suicidehotlines.com/national.html

2.  Scroll down toward the very bottom of the page. 

3.  Click on the heading "Helping a Suicidal Person"

Paul

What Are You Looking Forward To? What Concerns You?

What's Something...?

What's something that you're especially looking forward to in 2013?

And what's something that especially concerns you right now? 

One Thing That I'm Especially Looking Forward To in 2013...

... is traveling more! 

I really enjoy traveling, and I haven't done nearly as much in the past as I plan to do in the future. 

Whether it's traveling more here in central North Carolina, or to other parts of the Tar Heel State, or to other states or even other countries...

... and whether I do it for personal reasons, or professional reasons, or both..

... I'm looking forward to doing more of it in the new year. 

One Thing That Especially Concerns Me Right Now...

... is my parents' health. 

Like everyone else (except, I suppose, extremely accurately precognitive people, that is... and I don't think I'm one of them!)...

... I don't know what's going to happen in the future...

... and I want to do whatever I can to help my parents stay in as good health as possible, as long as possible.  

So How About You? 

What's something that you're looking forward to in the new year? 

And what's something that you're concerned about right now? 

I'd like to hear all about it: what you're looking forward to, what you're concerned about, you name it.  

Seriously. 

If You'd Like to Tell Me a Little ...

...about your hopes and joys, your worries and your woes, your whatever-the-case-may-be...

... and you'd like to do it privately...

... then you're welcome to email it to me (Paul Habit) at proudphoenix@pobox.com

And if you're okay with sharing such things in a way that is less private...

... though also in a way that affords an opportunity for you, me, and others to actually talk about it a little, as a group...

... then you're welcome to post a comment below. 

Get a Real Jump on Your Future!

Do monthly horoscopes make predictions or give you advice that simply do not jibe with your recent experiences or current realities?

Such "Sun-sign astrology" may be interesting. 

It may be amusing. 

And it's probably free. 

But how helpful is it?

(Remember, sometimes you get what you pay for... and that's if you're lucky!)

Don't settle for predictions or advice that fly in the face of what you know darn well is true.  

Get a one-, two-, or three-month astrological forecast that's based on your particular time, date, and place of birth...

... that does jibe with your recent experiences and your current realities...

.. and that is truly helpful...

... without breaking the bank.

Order a Personalized Forecast from me (professional astrologer Paul Habit)... 

... and get a real jump on your future!

Stay tuned for information about how to order your Personalized Forecast for January (or beyond).  

  

The Astrologer is In: Retrograde Planets In a Birth Chart

Here's another question that I was asked recently (today, in fact) by a young man, followed by my answer.

This question is about Mercury retrograde. 

***

Question: When a planet is in retrograde, that means it has the opposite effect of what it usually would do, right? I know whenever Mercury is in retrograde communications become difficult, while usually it promotes communication.

Answer: As I respond to your question, please bear in mind that different astrologers may interpret the same symbols (such as Mercury—or any other planet—retrograde) differently than each other. So my style (and my answers) will be like those of some astrologers and unlike those of some other astrologers. In other words, I'm not by any means representative of all of astrology-dom.

For example, people who practice “classical” astrology (astrology from, say, around 1900 or from centuries before then) often interpret the symbols in a relatively cut-and-dried way, in a way that seems to emphasize fate relative to free will. 

I, on the other hand, practice what might be considered “modern, humanistic” astrology (one type of astrology that became prominent in the past few decades). I interpret the symbols in a way that acknowledges that both fate and free will exist in this world (in different proportions, depending on the particular situation) while also emphasizing the choices that are (or the free will that is) available to each of us.

Now, having said all of that, when we’re talking about retrograde planets (Mercury being retrograde, say), I'm not sure from your question whether you are interested more in (A) talking about when Mercury is retrograde for all of us, at the same time, in real time (that is, "transiting" Mercury, such as during last month, during this coming February, etc.) or (B) talking about when Mercury is retrograde in an given person's birth chart. 

We can talk about both, but it's easier to talk about one or the other at a time. I'll hazard a guess here that you're more interested in the latter, so I'll talk about Mercury retrograde (MR) in terms of that. 

Let's suppose that you have MR in your birth chart.

In our birth charts, Mercury symbolizes our intellectual activity--the way that we take in stimuli from the world that surrounds us (i.e., sights, sounds, ideas, etc.), process it, and turn it out again in the form of information / ideas / opinions (among other things). That’s the gist of our “Mercury function.” 

With MR, the way that you "do Mercury" (your Mercury function) is turned inward.  It may be easier for you to think, and process such stimuli, and in ways that are relatively innovative, relatively independent, relatively imaginative, compared to what often tends to be the case with many other people. There’s a certain richness, or depth, or deep rootedness to your “Mercury function.” 

At the same time, you may also tend to find it difficult to express your ideas, opinions, or information through words / other media. 

Any other planet being retro in one's birth chart is analogous to MR there, though when it comes to UR, NE, or PL being retro, I wouldn't make too much of that (at least, not that alone, in the absence of any similar indications in a person's chart) because they're each retro almost half the time. 

NOTE: Visit my website for information (or a refresher) about what each of the planets in a birth chart symbolizes.  

(By the way, I tend to reduce everything to a 2-character abbreviation, but I figure those right there are pretty gimmes. ;-) ) 

The Sun and Moon are never retro. 

Also, typically a person has one or two planets retro (total) in his or her chart, so I consider it noteworthy if someone has three or more.

Now, for some people who were born with MR, their Mercury doesn't always stay retrograde---at least not according to one particular, commonly-used predictive technique. That technique is called secondary progressions (or just “progressions,” for short).

For some of us who were born with MR, at some point during our lives, Mercury, by progression, turns direct and then remains so for the rest of our lives. 

Now, this doesn't happen for everyone who was born with MR; but for those people for whom it does happen, after it happens, the manner(s) through which a person expresses his Mercury function often become much more straightforward in some senses than they were while Mercury was retrograde (again, using progressions).

Here's another point about MR “going direct by progression”... 

If and whenever someone’s progressed Mercury goes from being retro to being direct, that change of direction happens gradually over a number of years. During that period, especially during whichever days, weeks, and maybe even months surround the exact moment when Mercury changes direction, it’s not uncommon for that person to do especially striking or noteworthy things related to his Mercury and / or for that person to experience especially striking or noteworthy events related to it.   

Paul   

Industriousness Loves Company

NOTE: As she does every two or three days, the Moon changed signs today. Here are my comments about her latest sign change.


Well, La Luna, who's been staying at my (4th) house for a couple of days, is busily packing up her belongings.

For a good while there, we were enjoying ourselves here at chez moi. She was in just the right mood to have fun and to express herself with some drama, if not exactly perform on a stage...

... and, personally, I would've enjoyed continuing to scamper through the yard and through Leo with her today.

She, however, apparently has quite different designs for her day.

In the past hour or so, alone, she's changed her tone and her tune.

Now, she's gone all Lowe's hardware store ("Never Stop Improving") on me. She's acting all practical, like she's trying to get Somewhere Important.

I tried to tell her, "Honey, you are not not late!, late!, late!, for a very important date! That's the White Rabbit. For heaven's sake, you're the one and only Moon! (at least as far as Earth is concerned)."

Well, you can just imagine how far I got with that line of reasoning.

(And Neptune, by the way, also tried reaching her just now, telepathically sending a dreamy thought or two from Pisces; but the Moon just seemed to tune him out.)

Get this: La Luna said that she'll gladly help me with work that (she, at least, thinks) needs doing around the house over the next few hours; but at that point she's moving on.

She added that she might be up for relaxing over lunch with me in a few days, once she gets to Libra, but between now and then, she has lots of details to deal with and a million things on her mind.

(Really? A million things on her mind? If you ask me, she's suffering from a bit of a Leo drama-queen hangover.)

You know, I hate to admit it.

As much as I feel like resting today, I'm starting to wonder if that darn celestial body has started to rub off on me. I'm starting to think that maybe I should take of some business myself today.

Maybe.

In a few hours.

But first, this little astrologer is gonna occupy himself busily with the first coffee of the day (and, hopefully, a tad of ever-increasing consciousness).

So... If you wanna talk about your own designs for the day, I'm all ears (and eyes).

My dance card is open now, and it looks like the dance that I'll be doing is the Hustle (led along by La Luna, of course). In case you don't know, it is a line dance, so you're welcome to join me.

Misery (I mean, industriousness) loves company.

© Paul Habit - The Proud Phoenix, 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Are You Looking For an Astrologer...?

Are You Looking For an Astrologer...

 ... who has studied astrology for decades and has worked with clients for years? 

 ... who has experience in crisis intervention and case management?

 ... who has a master's degree in social work?

... who can meet with you in person in the Research Triangle Park area of central North Carolina? 

... who can work with you by Skype, telephone, or email, or mail while you are in the U.S. or in any other part of the world?

... who can work with you in Spanish, or English, or in both languages?

  

If Your Answer to Any (or All) of The Above Questions is "Yes"...

... then I may be the very astrologer that you are looking for.

  

My Biography, In Brief

For 35 years, I have studied astrology, including with Jodie Forrest, co-author of Skymates: Love, Sex and Evolutionary Astrology. As an astrologer, I have worked with clients for 10 years. Currently, I serve as the Education Co-Coordinator for the Network of Triangle Astrologers chapter of the National Council for Geocosmic Research. 

Since 2001, I have written and published articles about astrology on websites such as Delphi Forums and my own website, Proud Phoenix Astrology. In 2002, I translated “Love Handles: Practical Synastry in Action” by Steven Forrest from English to Spanish. 

I have eight years of experience in providing crisis intervention to the general public. I also have five years of experience in providing medical case management in English and Spanish to clients who have HIV. 

A member of the first graduating class of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, I have a Master of Social Work and a BA in International Studies and Spanish.

Would You Like to Talk About Exactly How I Might Help You?

I would be glad to discuss that with you. 

I Can Be Reached As Follows: 

• Email: proudphoenix@pobox.com
• Telephone / Text Messages: 919.210.9697
• Messages / Voice Messages: 919.210.9697*
• Skype: Paul Brian Habit

*NOTE: Until further notice, please use 919.210.6736--instead of 919.210.9697--to leave a message or a voice message for me.

Thank you for your interest in my services!

Paul Habit

Free Time Management Tool

GET MY FREE TOOL FOR TIME MANAGEMENT

Get my free “cheat sheet” Time Management the Lunar Way, and join me in using the Moon’s sign to your advantage.

With this cheat sheet, you’ll have a set of three-to-four key words that you use for each Moon sign. As the Moon changes signs every two or three days, you can tailor your approach to it… and support whatever sorts of results you would like to achieve.

While you can use the cheat sheet in any of a number of various ways, I’ll share a couple of examples now of one particular way that you can use it.

IT’S NESTING TIME IN THE CITY (AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, TOO)

Today, for example, the Moon is gliding through sensitive, nostalgic Cancer for two or three days.

It’s one leg of the Moon’s never-ending roughly-28-day, 12-leg cycle through the 12 signs of the zodiac, in their natural order: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, …., Pisces.

While the Moon glides through Cancer, we're all hankering to be a bit more comfy, cozy, secure, & around familiar peeps… like any self-respecting Cancer might hanker to do. ;-)

Other things being equal, during this Cancer Moon time, I would encourage you to give priority to activities and tasks that somehow relate to the key words of “intimacy” / “comfort” / “security” in one or more senses of those words.

Doing that will tend to get you better results than acting willy-nilly will get.

BUT WHAT IF THERE'S NO NEST TO BE FOUND?

Now, let’s suppose that you will be doing something today that involves anything but intimacy / comfort / security.

For one reason or another, you're either not anywhere near a "nest" or it's just not appropriate to be "nesting."

If that's the case, then to increase your chances of getting whatever results you desire, aim to incorporate elements of intimacy / comfort / security into it.

If nothing else, today, while Moon in Cancer, allow for the fact that you, I, and everyone else is a bit more intimacy- / 

security- / comfort-seeking than usual.

For example, maybe you’ll be running a business meeting, or maybe you’ll be going to a party where you’ll know hardly anyone else at all.

TREADING (A BIT) GENTLY AT A BUSINESS MEETING

At the business meeting, you might include time (however brief) to acknowledge milestone personal events of people in the group (such as birthdays, weddings, births, or deaths).

You might tread a little more gently and gradually than usual when communicating, since the “group mood” and manner may be a bit more skittish or more reserved than usual.    

FINDING COMFORT AMONG STRANGERS

In the example of going to the party of strangers, seek out some part of the room, or house, or grounds that feels relatively familiar and comfortable to you. Cozy up in a chair and tune in to familiar music that’s playing. Look at memorabilia that’s familiar. Walk some terrain that harks back to a pleasant part of your past.

And give yourself (and others around you) a break. If you go home without exchanging many words with many people, consider the possibility that simply going to such an event and spending some time there, around strangers, and staying more or less calm may be quite an accomplishment.

OK, so maybe you don’t have any rollicking, wildly “good times” with anyone now… and maybe you will, another time, or maybe even at the same place, with one or more people whom you've met today (if doing such would be your pleasure).

GET YOUR FREE CHEAT SHEET

What I've been talking about here is just part of what I refer to as time management the lunar way--using the Moon's monthly cycle through the zodiac signs to support your goals and activities.

To get your free copy of my Time Management the Lunar Way cheat sheet, drop by www.proudphoenix.com (the upper part of the home page, to be more exact) and sign up for a free subscription to my astrology e-newsletter.

MORE UP MY SLEEVE, SO STICK AROUND

Time management the lunar way is just one of a gazillion ways of better living through astrology… 

…and I've got lots of other ways up my sleeve.

I hope that you’ll stick around and join me for more of them as we wind down 2012 and move into the new year.

On This World AIDS Day 2012: My Experiences & Advice Regarding HIV

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, IS THE 25TH ANNUAL WORLD'S AIDS DAY.

WITH MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A SOCIAL WORKER...

... serving people who have HIV, I can say that getting tested ASAP can make all the difference in the world, when it comes to how you do if you are positive.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED AND EXPERIENCED...

....while working in HIV in Wake County, North Carolina, from 2006 till early this year.

GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS

If the *bad* news is that, at this point (at least) there's still no cure for HIV (at least, not a cure that's acknowledged as such by what I'll refer to as "mainstream medicine")... 

... then perhaps the *good* news is that…

… these days, for almost everyone who lives in the United States (at least)…

...if you *have* HIV, **there is NO *medical* reason** that you cannot still have a long, full, productive, and (dare I say) happy life...

...(at least, if you've *ever* considered yourself to have had a happy life)... 

... provided that you do...

THREE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD 

As I told *almost all* of the clients that I had over the past five or six years (with *very few exceptions*--see the next section about those)...

... when it comes to how you do after being diagnosed with HIV...

.... whether or not you do three (3) things can make all the difference in the world.

Those "three things" include:

1. Keeping your medical appointments as scheduled. 

If you're newly-diagnosed with HIV, once you've started your medical care and once it's "up to speed," you may need to have appointments anywhere from once every few weeks or so to once every six months, depending your particular situation.

2. Taking your medicine(s) as prescribed.

That assumes that you *get prescribed* meds. Some people don't need to start taking meds for months or years after being diagnosed.

3. Doing the "common-sense" sorts of things we should *all* do (whether or not we have HIV) if we want to be in good health: 

get enough sleep... get some physical exercise on a regular basis.., keep our stress within normal limits... eat at least some healthy foods... stop smoking, or drink less, or use other drugs less... and so on. 

GETTING INTO TREATMENT "LATE IN THE GAME" ISN'T ALWAYS ENOUGH

Now, as I mentioned just now, I told *almost all* of my clients the above. 

Between 2006 and early this year, I did have a very few (and I repeat: very few) clients who (sadly) got tested, diagnosed, and into medical care for HIV ....

... but who, by the time that they did not, were already simply too ill (whether from having HIV alone or from having it in combination with one or more other medical conditions) to live long... 

... despite the fact that dozens of very-often effective HIV medicines are on the market in this day and age. 

GETTING INTO TREATMENT EARLY ENOUGH SOMETIMES BRINGS PEOPLE “BACK FROM THE GRAVE"

In contrast with those very few such extreme cases, I can add (happily) that I *also had* many clients who had HIV and who thrived (if not after also bouncing back, almost "from the grave") once they had gotten tested, diagnosed, and into medical care. 

SO.... BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WORKING IN HIV IN RECENT YEARS...

here's my advice to you:

IF YOU HAVE *NEVER* BEEN TESTED FOR HIV...

.... and if you have *ever* had sex with *anyone* / shared drug works with *anyone*... 

... since, say, the mid-1970s...

... then I would encourage you to *at least* *seriously consider* getting tested. 

Yes, there *are* a few *other ways* that one could get HIV *besides having sex with someone or sharing drug works with someone who has it*...

... but these days, in the U.S. (at least), those other ways are *much less common* (for one reason or another), so I won't go into them right now...

... and yes, the advice that I've given here may be "overshooting the mark."

However, when it comes to your physical health and your overall well-being, I don't know about *you,* but I tend to think that it's worth---that *you're* worth--erring on the side of caution. 

IF YOU THINK THAT THERE'S *ABSOLUTELY NO WAY*...

... that *you* could *possibly* have HIV, then here's what I'd say to that:

Just ask either one of the newly-diagnosed 65-to-70-ish year old heterosexual women with whom I worked over the past few years about *that* one. 

During my five years and change of working in HIV, I can say that some people who got diagnosed with it *never* thought they might possibly have it. 

The two women that I've just mentioned here are just two such examples. I could also cite other people in other types of situations who (to their surprise) found out that they did, in fact, have HIV. 

To end this post on what is hopefully an at least somewhat inspiring note, I'll add that...

SOME PEOPLE HAVE MANAGED TO LIVE DECADES WITH HIV...

... and to manage it, much like people manage other chronic conditions, such as diabetes.

To read about what moves and sustains 31 people who have had HIV for anywhere between 16 to 30 years each see bit.ly/SlrL1M

Time for Another Lunar Eclipse... Today!

LET'S DISCUSS IT

Would you like to discuss this topic with others? Then post a message here / on The Proud Phoenix page on Facebook. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Today (Wednesday), November 28, at 9.45 a.m. GMT, a lunar eclipse occurs. Lunar eclipses happen at approximately the same time as Full Moons, though only some Full Moon periods feature lunar eclipses.

(Lunar eclipses occur when a Full Moon falls within about 13 degrees of the Moon's Nodes.)

At a Full Moon, the Sun and the Moon are located at two points that are exactly opposite from each other in the zodiac.

During this month’s Full Moon, the Moon is located at 6 degrees 40 minutes Gemini, while the Sun is at 6 degrees 40 minutes Sagittarius. Because it’s also a lunar eclipse, the Earth’s shadow passes over the Moon.

 

MY APPROACH TO WHO’S AFFECTED AND WHEN

As I discuss this month's lunar eclipse, I will take a somewhat conservative, middle-of-the-road approach compared to other astrologers.

(For more about a few other astrologers' individual approaches to eclipses, see the Appendix at the end of this blog entry.)

If you were born between roughly May 25 and May May 31, or between roughly November 29 and December 5, then this month's eclipse is particularly significant for you. You can expect issues to arise that impact your sense of who you are and the way that you express your general vitality.

To determine more about whether your birth chart is especially triggered by this event, pull out your birth chart.

(If you don’t have a copy, then you can enter birth information and get a free chart at http://www.astro.com).

Check your birth chart to see if your Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Mercury, Venus or Mars lies between roughly 4 and 10 degrees of Gemini / Sagittarius.

If so, then the affairs of the triggered planet and how you choose to respond to that planet are emphasized during this eclipse.

For example, if your Venus is triggered, then how you approach your social or aesthetic or recreational activities, and what happens in connection with them, may be emphasized during the eclipse period.

Which of your houses have Venus-ruled Taurus or Libra on their cusps (i.e., at the beginnings of them)?

Their affairs may also be emphasized now.

(On the other hand, if your Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Mercury, Venus and Mars are NOT in early-to-mid-Gemini or early-to-mid-Sagittarius, then you’ll mainly experience this eclipse in terms of whichever house in your chart it emphasizes.)

How long is an eclipse in effect?

I recommend that you start by considering the period from about a month before until about a month after the eclipse (from roughly October 29 till January 28), and then you see what patterns you notice in your own experiences.

 

SOME GENERAL THOUGHTS, APPLICABLE FOR EVERYONE

During a lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the Moon’s light. Practical considerations (the Earth) take precedence over emotional considerations (the Moon).

Between late October and late December, you might unexpectedly experience a confrontation with positive or problematic facets of your feelings now—facets or feelings that you have ignored. You might also experience a sudden confrontation with someone or something external to you.

In any event, don’t be surprised if some of your subtler, deeper or most hidden feelings get stirred up and brought into the light now. Since the Moon is in an air sign (Gemini), you may experience challenges involving matters involving intellectual activity, communication, or social activity.

During this period, aim to focus more on what’s going on here and now, rather than what happened in the past or the feelings that you still carry around, about what happened in the past.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Astrologer Tracy Marks suggests making room in your life to expect the unexpected and deal with it flexibly; plan to wrap up your activities or let go of outdated, limiting attitudes in whatever part of your life is affected; and maybe emphasizing spending more time on activities that help you feel grounded a la Saturn, rather than more focused on internal expansion a la Neptune.

IN ANY EVENT

As always during a Full Moon, two particular houses in your chart are emphasized between roughly November 25 and December 1.

During that time period, this month’s Full Moon eclipse highlights whichever the natural tension between whichever house in your chart contain 6 40 minutes Gemini and whichever house contains 6 degrees 40 minutes Sagittarius. This is true for everyone.

AN EXAMPLE: THE FULL MOON IN YOUR 3RD HOUSE AND THE SUN IN YOUR 9TH HOUSE

For example, let’s suppose that the Moon illuminates your 3rd house and the Sun activates your 9th house.

The Full Moon highlights the polarity between what’s “near and now,” what’s familiar and immediate (your 3rd house) and life’s larger issues and possibilities, what’s unfamiliar and distant (your 9th house). Attending to what’s of immediate concern, while also considering the overall direction of your life, can be an issue now. 

How could you integrate these two threads of your life more effectively, rather than overemphasize one to the detriment of the other?

During this lunar eclipse, you may experience an ending of circumstances related to travel, education, sales or marketing (some matter related to your 3rd house).

For example, maybe you give up on some old way of dealing with classmates, or neighbors, or siblings, or someone else in your immediate world. Maybe you let go of an old idea that life has proven to be unworkable. Maybe you give up on pursuing some contract of sale or certification program that just isn’t going to happen.

Although a ending might feel painful, it could also free you from your past so that you can claim your future. You may feel tempted to act irrationally now. You may want to cling to some facet of yourself or your experience out of a heightened desire for security.

This eclipse, however, is a reminder to step out of the past. It’s a reminder to move beyond acting reflexively on your feelings, to deal with issues more objectively. Emphasize wrapping up your activities that have outlived their usefulness. Emphasize letting go of outdated, limiting attitudes or values.

2012 ECLIPSES

Solar and lunar eclipses occur when a New or Full Moon falls within about 13 degrees of the Moon's Nodes. During most years, two sets of solar and lunar eclipses occur; each set includes a solar eclipse at the New Moon and a lunar eclipse at the Full Moon 14 days later.

Here’s a list of 2012 eclipses:

On May 20, there’s a solar eclipse at the New Moon. The Sun and Moon are both at 0 degrees 20 minutes Gemini.

On June 4, there’s a lunar eclipse at the Full Moon. The Sun is at 14 degrees 8 minutes Gemini, and the Moon is at 14 degrees 8 minutes Sagittarius.

On November 13, there’s a solar eclipse at the New Moon. The Sun and Moon are both at 21 degrees 57 minutes Scorpio.

On November 28, there’s a lunar eclipse at the Full Moon. The Sun is at 6 degrees 40 minutes Gemini, and the Moon is at 6 degrees 40 minutes Sagittarius.  

APPENDIX: TIME PERIOD AND WHO’S AFFECTED: APPROACHES VARY

Astrologers vary in which people they consider to be affected significant by eclipses. They vary in the orbs they use when looking at aspects between an eclipse and a person’s natal chart.

Jeff Jawer says that the impact for an individual is greatest when the eclipse is within about five degrees of conjoining or opposes a significant point in the natal chart.

Jodie Forrest says that if an eclipse occurs within about three degrees of conjoining or opposing one of your personal natal planets, it emphasizes the affairs of that planet, and how you choose to respond to that planet.

Tracy Marks say that an eclipse is most significant when it conjoins natal planets within two degrees. She says that we may experience crises in relation to ourselves or someone else when the eclipse squares or opposes a natal planet within two degrees.

Marks adds that when an eclipse sextiles or trines a natal planet within two degrees, we usually experience people helping us or new dimensions of our “higher subconscious or super conscious” opening up.

Astrologers also vary in how long they consider an eclipse to be in effect astrologically.

For example, in The Astrology of Self Discovery (c 1985, CRCS Publications, ISBN 0-916360-20-2) Marks says that an eclipse is mainly felt during the month before it occurs. She adds that if the eclipse conjoins, squares or opposes a natal planet within two degrees, it is felt until the next eclipse cycle.

Forrest considers it to be in effect for about a month before and after it occurs.

In an article at StarIQ.com, Jawer considers it to be in effect for about six months afterwards, or until the next eclipse of the same type (solar or lunar) occurs.

Marks says that the effect of an eclipse is reactivated whenever a transiting planet (especially Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto) conjoins the eclipse degree.