We’ve been watching Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron move closer to one another for several weeks. Jupiter and Neptune are exactly conjunct for the first time on Wednesday at 26° Aquarius, and shape-shifting Chiron, the wise teacher from outside of our solar system, is also at this degree. Since both Chiron and Neptune station in the next few days, and Jupiter stations in mid-June, these three continue to stay close all year, with another peak period in December.
Mars is now at 26° Aries; in these immediate few days the qualities of these three bodies coming together, their alchemical possibilities, gain encouragement, warmth and guidance through the easy support of the sextile aspect.
The New Moon yesterday was at 3°28′ Gemini (and a happy lunar return to the president, whose natal Moon is 3°21′ Gemini). President Obama, of course, has the North Node at 27° Leo (conjunct Uranus at 25° Leo) and the South Node at 27° Aquarius, also the degree of the U.S. Sibly Moon. (This is also the degree of his pre-natal solar eclipse, February 15, 1961.) The convergence of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron this week activates all of these points.
The Moon in the chart of a country represents ordinary people and the general populace, the “little” people as opposed to the rulers. One aspect in the political debate this week is the focus on the president’s nomination for Chief Justice. Obama made the shocking-to-some admission that he is looking for the quality of “empathy” in his choice. As Mercury retrograde is bound to do (accompanied in this case, by a square to Neptune), the word has been reframed and dissected throughout the media this week. In some contexts a discussion of empathy vs. compassion and sympathy might be relevant. But, for now, I’m going to imagine that “empathy” is a quality that the union of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron could well pull off, if not specifically in our next Chief Justice, then perhaps in our own ordinary/extraordinary human consciousness.
Since the Moon in a country’s horoscope shows the mood of the people, maybe we are confused (e.g., is anyone telling the truth?), yet optimistic and idealistic. The planets that bring the greatest benefit (Jupiter) in the best possible ways (Neptune) to the human community (Aquarius) are speaking to the people of the nation. With Chiron there as well, there’s an even more translucent quality to this time in which the invisible worlds are opened up and teaching us a lot. Increasing our spiritual sensitivity has many methods and means, of course. Whether through devotion to religious or artistic practices, a meditative or contemplative path, or a more secular inquiry into issues of human rights and justice, we certainly see a deep reorganizing of priorities as people grapple with huge unemployment numbers, unending wars, an upended economy, global warming, etc.
These are strong days for our most expansive ideals, demonstrations of faith and generosity, and raucous nothing-to-lose interconnectedness and service to the highest good.
If we consider transits to your personal horoscope, the natal house where this conjunction falls is of primary focus. At least as significant, however, is the house with Pisces on the cusp. Herein is the domain in your inner/outer life where the experience of sublime transcendence and dissolution of self-centered fixations can be directly felt (and may, for some of us, require guidance – remembering Saturn’s place in keeping us tethered in reality).
In a display of Gemini’s capacity to gather information, here is a brief offering of ideas and experiences that I think suggest this current alchemy between Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron. Please add your suggestions to advance the collective endeavor offered by these planetary archetypes towards more (Jupiter) love (Neptune) and healing (Chiron) for us all (Aquarius)!
Many readers may be familiar with the teaching of Gangaji, a spiritual teacher in the lineage of Ramana Maharshi. She’s now blogging on one the most visible sites: Huffington Post. Her first entry is a clear and simple commentary on the meditative state.
Environmental activist Paul Hawken gave a superb commencement speech earlier this month at the University of Portland. If you haven’t already, do read it now, with the words charged by the potency of this moment. Hawken’s words are infused with “a deep sense of connectedness to the living world.” He says: “Inspiration is not garnered from the litanies of what may befall us; it resides in humanity’s willingness to restore, redress, reform, rebuild, recover, reimagine, and reconsider.”
Musician John Legend also gave a commencement speech this week at the University of Pennsylvania. Legend considers the reality of poverty and the politics of war, as well as the necessity for a “politics of empathy” and the quality of soulfulness. (Musicians, sensitive to the muses, are ruled by Neptune whose dreams are furthered spectacularly now by Jupiter’s expansive view and Chiron’s body/mind wisdom.)
Your Practice Site for Gratefulness is a lovely stopping point. It is the site of an international nonprofit organization that “provides resources for living in the gentle power of gratefulness, which restores courage, reconciles relationships, and heals our Earth.” There are meditative and prayerful experiences herein, including a labyrinth walk and the Angel of the Hour The angel hours are accompanied by bells and chants for each of the traditional eight hours of the day (e.g., Vigils, The Night Watch, “before the day’s noises begin and it is still perfectly quiet”; Terce, The Joy of Living, a “mid-morning prayer break” and Compline, Completing the Circle, at night, just before going to bed.
And, of course, Susan Boyle sang to the world again on Friday night. One of the British TV host’s spoke of how the world going through a very difficult time was looking for a “bit of hope and inspiration” and found it in Ms. Boyle. TV reviewer Ken Tucker writes: “Wearing a glittery brown dress, standing behind a backdrop of clouds with a spotlight behind her head making it look as though her face was emanating from heaven, Boyle pulled off her second major public appearance with ease.” As Robert Blaschke noted in an earlier blog, she has the prenatal solar eclipse at 26° Aquarius (like President Obama). If you’re not already one of the 60 million viewers who have seen it thus far, take delight in Susan Boyle’s singing (and notice the supreme confidence in her face and voice while singing the lines “a new day will begin.”)
On this Memorial Day, thank you to all who have served, who are serving and who will serve our country in the days ahead.