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By Simone Butler When NASA sent a rocket to the dark side of the moon to penetrate her secrets, the symbolism of the event no doubt escaped them. Flying a rocket booster into the moon at twice the speed of a bullet just seemed like a really cool, techno-geek thing to do. "We're certainly going to be making a big splash," enthused NASA's Kimberly Ennico just prior to the Oct. 8 event. Our search for the presence of water (the feminine) on the moon is an attempt to confirm what ancient cultures have always known. Grandmother Moon, who reflects the light of Grandfather Sun, has long been a symbol of the sacred feminine. Violating the moon to make her cough up her resources--without considering possible consequences--is, however, a primitive strategy that belongs to the warring world we are leaving behind. The Divine Mother is awakening from centuries of being dismissed and denigrated, to bestow her powers upon the world once more. As consciousness rapidly evolves, the old world is dying and a new one is being born. This process is reflected by four major planets in cardinal, action-oriented signs moving into an unprecedented T-square formation over the next few years. Pluto is already in the early degrees of Capricorn, bringing its energies of death and rebirth to bear on outmoded governmental and financial systems. As Saturn enters Libra on Oct. 29, it squares transformational Pluto. Saturn, exalted in Libra, symbolizes justice and accountability. Its square to Pluto brings up deeply buried fears, passions and belief systems we bought into long ago, demanding change and transformation. Once Uranus and Jupiter charge into Aries next June to complete the T-square, we'll be fully in the throes of birthing our new world. The October 17 New Moon in Libra, sign of the balancing scales, (10:33 pm Pacific time) triggers this process. The Sun and Moon square the karmic North Node in Capricorn and South Node in Cancer. The need for balance has already become obvious, in both our personal and collective lives. Will we choose the North Node path of setting clear boundaries and making things right, or go the South Node route of caving in to fearful demands and regressive patterns? The imperative need to choose a new path is emphasized by the Saturn/Pluto square at month's end. Saturn/Pluto calls up the image of a sweat lodge. This sacred Native American rite helps you sweat out physical and emotional impurities as you send prayers up with the smoke and steam. When done correctly, you emerge reborn. But, as recently became apparent at a Sedona retreat center, it can also be dangerous if done without honoring ancient traditions. On Oct. 8, the same day the rocket blasted into the Moon (with heroic Mars conjunct the regressive South Node) two people died and others were hospitalized after 64 workshop participants crowded into a sweat lodge constructed of plastic tarps (traditional lodges are made of breathable materials.) Dehydrated, oxygen-deprived and poisoned by toxic plastic fumes, people began getting sick and passing out after two hours, with tragic results. This incident is a cautionary tale about abdicating one's own personal authority (Saturn) to an all-powerful person or passion (Pluto). These folks wanted spiritual transformation. They wanted it so badly that they were willing to push themselves beyond all reason (or let themselves be blindly led) to attain it. Many of us will face similar challenges over the next few years. Saturn in Libra asks us to maintain our integrity and do what we know is right, even when powerful forces tell us otherwise. President Obama faces this challenge as he grapples with the hawkish power elite and terrorist forces in an attempt to earn his Nobel Peace Prize. With Saturn in peace-loving Libra over the next three years, we will all need to utilize the art of diplomacy to cultivate more balance in our relationships. Luckily, Saturn in Libra favors creating and improving connections with significant others. In the near future, many of us will finally end unworkable unions, and others will link up with kindred spirits and soulmates. The New Moon in Libra reminds us that the feminine way of grace and ease trumps the patriarchal mode of stoic suffering. The New Moon's trine to transcendent Neptune in Aquarius whispers that the infinite field of Spirit is all around us. This message is echoed by inspirational Jupiter's return to forward motion in Aquarius on the evening of Oct. 12. Our angels and ancestors are with us. We can find solace and accomplish great things now as we reach out to like-minded allies in this world and the next.
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November
Theme: Grace
and Ease