Astro Weather September 2009

Full Moon September 4, 2009
September begins with a full moon in Aquarius opposite the ruler of Aquarius, Saturn in Leo. This Aquarian moon occurs in the twenty-fourth nakshatra, Shatabhisha which means "the hundred physicians" or "hundred healers". It may also be translated as "the hundred flowers" indicating the knowledge of herbs and other flower remedies. The number 100 refers to the collection of stars belonging to this asterism, each representing one physician/medicine/herb/flower.

The symbol for Shatabhisha is an empty circle, and the deity associated with this nakshatra is Varuna, the god of rain and cosmic waters. As he presided over the waters of heaven and of the ocean and was a guardian of immortality, Varuṇa was one of the most important deities of the ancient Indo-Aryans. In 2000 a potential dwarf planet located in the outer circle of our solar system, the Kuiper Belt, was named after Varuna.

The significance of the circle refers to cycles of all kinds: the cycle of life and death, the cycle of day and night, or a trip around the zodiac. An empty circle implies a boundary around space, perhaps like a cell wall? A circle is also used to set the boundaries for sacred space in which healing work may be done under its protection, like a medicine wheel. Thus a circle may also conceal and hide things, which may explain why Shatabhisha is also known as the "veiling star". The mystery of crop circles is that their meaning is often hidden in the geometric designs within the circle. Shatabhisha is ruled by Rahu and thus has a shadow side. Its secretive nature may veil or distort information for selfish purposes. It gains power by keeping its wisdom hidden.


During this full moon, it might be wise to draw your own magic circle and make space for meditation. Shatabhisha is connected with the crown chakra (baihui, Du 20 in acupuncture means 100 Convergences), which is a portal to higher levels of consciousness.

It is a perfect time to explore these realms in solitude. It is not a great time to go out if your immune system is weak and the membrane/circle of your cellular walls are not intact. According to ancient Vedic seers chronic illnesses contracted under the moon in Shatabhisha may require "a hundred physicians" to heal them.



Saturn changes sign from Leo to Virgo on September 9, 2009 For the past two and a half years Saturn has been traveling in the stellar fields of the sign of Leo. As anyone with a Leo moon, sun or ascendant will tell you, this is not a happy transit. Saturn's cold and constricting nature puts out the lively enthusiasm of sunny Leo leaving a lot of disappointment and disillusionment in its wake. Even Saturn's beautiful rings have temporarily disappeared from view.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20090810/sc_space/saturnsringstodisappeartuesday

The good news is that Virgo is a friendly sign for the somber giant. Saturn does well in this earth sign that rules perfection, service, and practical design. Saturn in Virgo is focused and analytical, and may inspire those working in the health and banking fields to reassess and restructure current practices in favor of something practical, productive and perfect. However, as Saturn spends two and a half years in a sign, it may take a couple of years before any new policy is actually in place and in effect. Saturn is the chart ruler for the US Scorpionic chart, and where it transits usually indicates where national attention and energy will be focused. It will spend the next two years transiting the 8th house that rules sex, death, chronic illness, debt, and taxes -- as if we haven't already been focusing on these subjects. Saturn promises to heal these areas. With a little hard work and patience the nation will feel revitalized in two and a half years when Saturn finally makes it to its sign of exhaltation -- in Libra -- in 2012.

Future posts:
Mercury retrograde: 9/7/09 - 9/29/09
Venus, Happiness and Immunity
Fall Equinox occurs on September 22, 2009