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Aquarius Solar Eclipse: Throw Out a Bone

By Simone Butler

Kathy Wilkes-Myers was walking along a highway in central Tennessee recently when she came across a scrawny, starving Rottweiler. The dog, who she later learned was named Ella, rubbed against Kathy’s leg looking for reassurance. “I could just tell right away she was somebody’s baby,” the Good Samaritan told CBS.

Kathy took Ella home and fed her, and then recalled that there had been an accident nearby. So the next day they went back and found the site. Ella took Kathy to a pile of personal items belonging to the family, which the dog had apparently collected and hidden after the accident. A tearful Kathy realized Ella had been waiting for them to return, but she didn’t think anyone could have survived the horrific accident.

After contacting the authorities, however, Kathy was stunned to discover the family had indeed survived. It seems that a terrified Ella was ejected from the car during the crash and had hidden in the woods. She’d waited nearby for 13 long days and nights before Kathy rescued her.  The family was overwhelmed with joy to retrieve their beloved pet, as they’d assumed she perished in the accident.

The loyalty of dogs is astonishing, and well documented. In 1925, a similar incident featured Hachiko the Akita, who met the evening train in front of Tokyo’s Shibuya Station every day for over nine years, patiently waiting for his owner to return. As depicted in the touching film Hachi: A Dog’s Life, the devoted canine had no way of knowing his owner had died and wouldn’t be coming back.

The Year of the Dog can call forth such loyalty in all of us. On Feb. 16, the whims and impulses of the Fire Rooster give way to the solidarity and steadfastness of the Earth Dog.  Our fidelity to what or who we believe in is about to be intensified. The Earth Dog favors new business ventures and major lifestyle changes. Just make sure the cause you’ve championed or the master you’re serving are worthy ones, since dogged determination can easily turn to blind obedience. Conservative movements will no doubt clash even more forcefully with those dedicated to social justice.

Dog years often coincide with revolutions. The current U.S. president is a Fire Dog (aggressive, impulsive, headstrong), and although the Earth Dog year may bring him down to earth, it’s also apt to increase his stubbornness. Think about it: How many times will a determined canine retrieve that stick you’re throwing?  So, we can expect the commander-in-chief to redouble his efforts and use every means at his disposal to achieve his ends.

The Chinese New Year coincides with a solar eclipse in Aquarius (Feb. 15, 1:05 p.m. PST) giving it extra impact. Aquarius can symbolize masses of people rising up, whether to rebel against an oppressive regime or to take a stand for a progressive cause. However, since the eclipse is conjunct the South Node, there’s also the danger of mass delusion or failure to take a stand. Aquarius represents the power of our higher minds to change apparent reality, so we’re asked to get clear about where we’re headed and create a vision to guide us there. This New Moon eclipse, although partial, is the “bookend” to the big total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017 (it happens at 27 Aquarius, opposite the August eclipse at 28 Leo). Thus, this eclipse can bring back themes from last summer/early fall, especially if it activates planets or angles in your chart. The Sun and Moon square Jupiter, urging us to go bigger and aim higher, as long as we don’t overdo it. They also join clever Mercury in Aquarius, helping us to craft a brilliant plan and execute it. And with no planets in retrograde until March 8, the coast is clear for achieving goals.

If you’ve been longing for greater mental clarity or access to your higher guidance, just throw out a bone near this eclipse, and the Earth Dog will respond. With a South Node eclipse, however, you must let go of the old to make room for the new. But once a fresh vision starts to crystallize, you can count on the loyal Dog within you (no matter your Chinese animal sign) to bring it on home.

And if you’re in San Diego, please join me this Thursday evening to celebrate the Year of the Dog, and see what it (and the solar eclipse) may have in store for you!

Filed under: Home New Moon Featured Article

About Simone Butler

Simone Butler is the author of Moon Power: Lunar Rituals for Connecting with your Inner Goddess. She's been a professional astrologer for 30 years. In addition to a worldwide consulting practice on astrology and Astro Feng Shui, Simone offers New Moon collage classes, and writes for The Mountain Astrologer. She also wrote for and edited the Starscroll for many years. Simone’s book Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life fuses Western astrology and Western feng shui into one unique, transformative system. Sign up to receive her entertaining, informative bi-monthly blogs and learn about her monthly rituals and tips.

Comments

  1. Lara Flynn says

    Feb 14, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    Thank you for the inspirational post,
    I appreciate your monthly post!

    Reply
    • Simone Butler says

      Feb 14, 2018 at 8:16 pm

      You are so welcome, Lara! Happy solar eclipse!

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
New Phase

in the
Sign of Aries


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
(subtract: PST -8 hours, PDT -7 hours, EST -5 hours, EDT -4 hours)

  • Moon sextile Mars, 5:13pm  Mar 23 2023
  • Moon square Pluto, 6:42pm  Mar 23 2023
  • Moon sextile Saturn, 9:57pm  Mar 23 2023

Venus is currently
The Evening Star

in the sign of Taurus


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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.