Comet Yi-Swan

Yi Swan

Another SWAN comet is making astronomical news, Comet Yi-SWAN, discovered by amateur astronomers Dae-am Yi in Korea on March 26, 2009, and then later confirmed by professional astronomer Robert Matson on April 4, 2009. Right now the new comet is traveling in a highly inclined parabolic orbit, moving slowly across the constellation of Cassiopeia toward Perseus. It may be viewed by telescope all night long and brightest around May 9, 2009. The last SWAN comet was discovered in 2006 by Matson, and transited the constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown of Ariadne.



In mythology Cassiopeia is the queen whose vanity threatened the life of her daughter Andromeda, who was set up as sacrificial offering to the sea monster Cetus to pay for her mother's boastful hubris. As I mentioned in the previous post, Venus, the planet of beauty and vanity, has been doing a debilitated retrograde through the constellation Andromeda for the past month. This new siting brings more attention to this myth of sacrifice and rescue, synchronistically occurring during the holiday periods of Passover and Easter.

As I have written in previous posts, comets are seen by astrologers as messengers and harbingers of death of kings and queens. In this case, it may be a vain queen, or her daughter, up for cosmic retribution. The name of the comet, Yi-Swan is intriguing. Swans are often associated with Venus in mythology. In the Greek story of Leda and the Swan, Zeus disguised himself as a swan to hide his sexual union with Leda from his wife Hera. As a result, Helen of Troy, the icon of beauty that sparked the Trojan war was conceived. Other references in classical literature include the belief that upon death the otherwise silent Mute Swan would sing beautifully - hence the phrase swan song. Could a pop star act out the drama of Cassiopea, or will it be a political figure?




In Chinese yi may be translated as black, gift, one, greet, he/she, and Iran/Iraq. The black swan is also a potent symbol. There is a sarcastic reference to a good woman being a "rare bird, as rare on earth as a black swan", from which we get the Latin phrase rara avis, rare bird. While researching swan symbolism, I came across a recent book called The Black Swan that caught my psychic attention. As summarized in Wikipedia:

The Black Swan theory (in Nassim Nicholas Taleb's version) refers to a large-impact, hard-to-predict, and rare event beyond the realm of normal expectations. Unlike the philosophical "black swan problem", the "Black Swan" theory refers only to events of large consequence and their dominant role in history. Black Swan events may also be called outliers. The theory was described by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his 2007 book The Black Swan. Taleb regards many scientific discoveries as "black swans" — undirected and unpredicted. He gives the rise of the Internet, the personal computer, World War I, and the September 11, 2001 attacks as examples of Black Swan events. The term Black Swan comes from the assumption that 'All swans are white'. In that context, a black swan was a metaphor for something that could not exist. The 17th Century discovery of black swans in Australia metamorphosed the term to connote that the perceived impossibility actually came to pass. Taleb notes that John Stuart Mill first used the Black Swan narrative to discuss falsification.

It looks like we may be in for something that shifts outdated beliefs. Who or what is the black swan?

Venus is re-emerging as the morning star and will go stationary direct in her sign of exhaltation on April 17, 2009. As I mentioned in my March 6, 2009 post, The Babylonians called Venus the double-phased Ishtar -- the morning star of war and the evening star of love. Greek astrologers called the morning phase of Venus Lucifer ("the light bearer"). The Mesoamericans linked the morning phase of Venus with Quetzalcoatl, believing that this was a time when leaders are struck down and natural disasters occur. In addition, the number 17 is a significant one for the conspiracy crowd who understand its connection to solar deity, and thus kingship, symbolism (even popped up in the black swan lore as it was discovered in the 17th century). Pay attention to the collective symbols that are broadcast on the 17th of each month. Venus will be the morning star of war until December 2009 when she undergoes her transformation back to evening star of love. Let's hope she will take on her mantle of diplomacy and charm, and keep the asuras at bay.

Astro Weather April 2009

New Moon March 26, 2009
The new moon occurred in Pisces under the influence of the nakshatra Uttara Bhadrapada. This lunar mansion has the power to bring cosmic rain, varshodyamana shakti, which is typical of March weather patterns. It consists of two stars, Pegasi and Andromedae which form the two legs of the back part of a funeral bed. Like the myth of Andromeda, it signifies the release of bondage, the release of kundalini, the release of life through death -- the deep sleep of consciousness. The deity associated with Uttara Bhadrapada is Ahir Bhudhanya, the serpent of the deep. This lunation cycle may have us going deep to uncover repressed issues hidden in our deep subconscious. And it may be a bumpy ride since all three benefics, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are debilitated.

Venus Retrograde
Although Venus is in her sign of exhaltation, her retrograde motion has weakened her presence and on Friday March 27, 2009 she was completely done in by a combustion with the Sun. Astrologically Venus represents how we get what we want, and the nature of the love we receive. When this power is afflicted, relationships may loose some of their luster, communication may not be as sweet, or or we may not be able to get what we want as easily as when the planet is strong.

When Venus is retrograde, it is a great time to turn our relationship radar inward and reassess any problems, differences, or unresolved issues. It is not necessarily a time to break up relationships, but to gain awareness of their value. The good news is that when Venus does go direct, she will still be in Pisces and will regain her exhaltation status. If you can get through these bumps, she will bless you with her sweetness by April 17, 2009.

Jupiter in Capricorn
Jupiter has been transiting the somber sign of Capricorn since December 9, 2008. I for one am tired of learning to live within my means; but the good little Saturnine girl that I am will not indulge her impulse for immediate gratification. I can wait -- at least until Jupiter makes its three month Aquarian visit appropriately arriving on its own day, Thursday, May 1, 2009 -- and will celebrate Beltane.

Mercury in Pisces
On Sunday March 22, 2009 Mercury slipped into its sign of debilitation, Pisces, and will remain there until April 6, 2009. Mercury rules the lungs and immune system, and sure enough I started to get sick with a sore throat (Venus) on that day. Mercury also rules thoughts, ideas and the nervous system. I have to say my thinking has been more emotional and anxious since this change and am trying to carve out meditation time to heal. Mercury also rules business and commerce, as well as liars and thieves. The good news, is that even though the economy is still weak, liars and thieves are too, and they will be exposed.

Full Moon

Tonight's full moon will be in the sign of Leo, in the nakshatra of Purva Phalguni and about 8 degrees from Saturn. There is a lovely mutual exchange between Saturn in Leo and the Sun in Aquarius tied to this lunation that will mellow Saturn for just a few more days. Uttara Phalguni is known as the "Star of Patronage" and it has the power of giving prosperity through marriage or union (chayani shakti).

The symbol for this nakshatra is the rear two legs of a bed. A bed represents a place of rest and relaxation, and thus Uttara Phalguni is about comfort. It a also a sign of healing. The main deity associated with this nakshatra is Aryaman, one of the 12 Adityas, or solar deities. He is associated with hospitality and friendship. We can expect this full moon cycle to be recuperative. Enjoy.

Astro Weather March 2009

Venus retrograde March 6 - April 17, 2009
March begins under the influence of a Venus retrograde cycle. A planet is described as retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. Astrologers view this change in perceived motion to be alchemically reflected in shifts of consciousness. For example Mercury retrograde cycles change the direction of how we think. Venus retrograde changes the direction of how we receive love and creative inspiration. In Vedic astrology, retrograde planets are believed to be more powerful. In Astrology of the Seers, David Frawley writes:

Retrograde planets often indicate a karmic result. They may be functioning to fulfill some karmic debt or promise or to clear up affairs from the past.

The last time Venus went through a retrograde period was the late summer of 2007 when it passed through the fire/water Gandanta degrees of Leo and Cancer (see Astro weather posts July, August, and September 2007). What was going on during that time may be thematically reflected and/or resolved by this current retrograde cycle.

At 9:15 am PDT an exalted Venus in Pisces turned to retrograde motion. It will remain in watery Pisces during the entire retrograde. When an exalted planet goes retrograde its power is dimmed to near debilitation. As the planet of relationships, arts, and pleasure, Venus retrograde slows down the flow of energy to these areas of our lives. We may feel blocked from receiving the things we love. Or perhaps old loves or unresolved issues from the past may come up for us. It is not a great time to start new relationships, but it is a good time to re-access what gives us pleasure.

During this 44 day period, Venus will pass through the Piscean nakshatras of Revati (3/6 - 3/22) and Uttara Bhadrapada (3/22 - 4/17 - 5/13) and make a close conjunction to the fixed star Alpheratz in the Andromeda constellation. This fixed star is considered auspicious, and relates to the Greek myth of a young Perseus saving Andromeda from the wrath of Poseidon. According to the story, as Perseus was on his journey back to Seriphus, he came upon a beautiful girl named Andromeda, who was chained to a rock in Ethiopia. Her parents had angered Poseidon, who demanded Andromeda’s sacrifice to a horrible sea monster as punishment. Perseus insisted on her hand in marriage in exchange for killing the monster, and her parents agreed. Using his special weapons, he killed the beast, and took his beautiful bride. This constellation has a lot to do with Venusian themes of beauty, love, marriage, and sacrifice.

The nakshatra Revati is associated with wealth, abundance and prosperity as well as with beginnings and endings. Venus will spend most of the retrograde in the nakshatra Uttara Bhadrapada whose deity is Ahirbudhnya, the serpent of the deep, which syncs nicely with the myth of Andromeda.

The sign of Pisces is associated with fish and the deep sea and we may expect to see these watery symbols pop up in the collective consciousness. Today CNN had plenty of synchronistic headlines: Pink (Venus) Dolphin spotted in Louisiana, Inventor Flies Under Water, and Obama to reverse Stem Cell Ban, Unhappily ever after: Why bad marriages hurt women's health (a Venus retrograde headline if I ever heard one -- for more visit mt new sister blog Starsync).



Vedic astrology offers wonderful remedial measures, called upayas, to soothe afflicted planets or difficult transits. Some of these remedies include wearing gemstones and chanting mantra. White crystals, such as diamond and white sapphire, emit a frequency that resonates with Venus. By wearing these crystals we imprint our field with this vibration and thus strengthen the Venus frequency within us. In the Vedic tradition, Venus, Shukra, is the son of the great seer Bhrigu who taught his descendant all spiritual sciences and Vedic scriptures. As Venus rules chanting of mantras, tantra, alchemy and the medical arts, these pursuits are great remedies. Venus retrograde is the perfect time to reconnect with these practices -- especially on Venus' day, Friday. A mantra one might use is: Om shum shukraaye namah.


Morning Star/Evening Star
Venus is perhaps one of the most beautiful celestial bodies in the night sky. There is an eight year cycle associated with her dance and retrograde patterns as viewed from the Earth. A Venus cycle includes 5 retrogrades over 8 years, cutting a path in the shape of a star or pentagram.



This phenomenon was observed by ancient sky-watchers and mystics, and became the basis of many myths involving death and resurrection. Christians, Mayans, and Hindus all describe the return of the morning star as symbolic of the return of their teachers. The Babylonians called Venus the double-phased Ishtar -- the morning star of war and the evening star of love. Greek astrologers called the morning phase of Venus Lucifer ("the light bearer") and the evening phase Hesperus ("setting in the West"). The Mesoamericans linked the morning phase of Venus with Quetzalcoatl, one of their major gods, believing that this was a time when leaders are struck down and natural disasters occur.

Venus will spend the next 44 days retrograding through the stellar influences of Pisces, the most mystical sign of the zodiac. The evening star begins a shamanic journey disappearing behind the sun to become completely combust on Friday, March 27, 2009. She will re-emerged as the morning star in early April and go stationary direct on April 17, 2009. Venus will be the morning star until December 2009. Keep praying for peace.

Namaste!