Uranus and Neptune in Mutual Exchange

Uranus in Pisces 4/6/09 - 10/3/09
Neptune in Aquarius June 2008 - 10/2/09

Vedic astrology has historically relied on observation of visible planets to follow their journey through the heavens. While some ancient Vedic texts discuss shadow planets, there is no absolute connection between these mathematically constructed theoretical planets and the outer planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. As the outer planets were discovered at a much later time than that of the ancient seers, it was left to modern Western astrologers to define the astrological meaning and significance of the outer planets. Uranus and Pluto's massive size and extended orbits suggested that they be deemed generational planets -- effecting groups and generations as much as individuals. Many of the modern interpretations associate the events occurring at the timing of their discovery to their thematic meaning. They were each assigned a sign by transferring the dual rulership of Jupiter (Sagittarius/Pisces), Saturn (Capricorn/Aquarius), and Mars (Aries/Scorpio) to Uranus (Aquarius), Neptune (Pisces), and Pluto (Scorpio). Only Venus and Mercury are left with their Ayurvedic rulerships Taurus/Libra and Gemini/Virgo.



Uranus was discovered in 1781 by Sir William Herschel during the time of revolutionary upheaval and scientific discovery in the Western world. Uranus takes 84 years to orbit the sun, spending about 7 years in each sign of the zodiac. Because of this long orbit, astrologers interpret its influence as generational according to the sign it occupies. It was assigned to rule Aquarius.



As an Aquarian in both Eastern and Western traditions, I have always been fascinated by Uranus. It is the only planet in our solar system that rotates on its side. Its poles face the sun so that one hemisphere is bathed in light, while the other lies in total darkness. These strange traits reflect its astrological significance as the breaker of convention. Thus Uranus is associated with sudden change, shock, disturbance, transformation, eccentricity, electricity, and invention.



Neptune was discovered in 1846 after astronomers encountered unexpected changes in the orbit of Uranus. Mathematical calculations led astronomers to deduce that its orbit was subject to gravitational perturbation by an unknown planet. Thus Neptune was the first planet found by mathematical prediction rather than by empirical observation. It takes 165 years to orbit the sun, spending approximately 14 years in each sign of the zodiac, and has just returned to the sign it was in when it was initially discovered.



The revelation of Neptune by mathematics demonstrates part of its hidden, subtle, illusionary, and confusing nature. Astrologers assigned its rulership to the sublime sign Pisces. Neptune's discovery occurred during a period of philosophical, religious, and political change. Its appearance coincided with national movements towards ideal society. For example The Communist Manifesto was published in 1848. Modern art sprung from a rejection of Realism and state sanctioned definitions of art to the acceptance the individual suffering artist as romantic hero/god. Abstract and subtle art began to gain acceptance, especially when realism could be captured and easily reproduced in a new medium: the photograph -- first revealed around 1839. And perhaps most significantly for the world today, the industrial revolution was literally fueled by the discovery of oil in 1846. Thus astrologically Neptune is associated with psychic sensitivity, imagination, charm, fluids and oil, and the media and film. What is most intriguing to me is that Neptune was discovered in approximately the same mutual exchange that it is currently occupying. Will this period be the 'last hours of ancient sunlight'? Or will new discoveries about oil and fuel be revealed?

As a neo-Vedic astrologer I do occasionally consider the outer planets in my astrological analysis. What I neglected to see earlier this month was a change in sign for my favorite gas giant, Uranus. It just slipped into Pisces on April 6, 2009. Moreover, Neptune has been transiting the sign of Aquarius since June of last year. What is intriguing is that they are currently in a mutual exchange of sign until October: Uranus in Neptune's sign, and Neptune in Uranus' sign. In Vedic astrology this is a special placement called parivartana yoga and it suggests that each planet takes on strengths of the other. The same parivartana yoga was also going on at the time of Neptune's discovery. It might be worthwhile to look back at that time to see what else was happening world wide.

1846
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
The Great Irish Famine (1845-1848)
Invention of Rotary Printing Press
Cholera Epidemic in England
Sewing machine patented
Pope Pious IX takes over
The Virgin Mary appears to 2 children in Salette, France

In considering these events, it is not hard to see potential themes of the past reflected in those that face us today. There is still talk in Texas by Rick Perry about secession from the US.



Our relationship with Mexico, Central America, and South America is politically one of the most important agendas for the near future. Perhaps we will reverse our imperial karma if we can open relations with Cuba and Venezuela.



Famine is already happening though out most of the third world, and even the US is predicted to have food shortages if the economy continues to spiral downward. Many newspapers are no longer going to press as the rise of the internet has made them obsolete. In 1846 Pope Pious IX began what was the longest reign in Church history, lasting 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed Papal infallibility. My how things have changed. And although the Virgin Mary still makes appearances, there are far more UFO sitings on record. Still in January 2009 Pope Bendict XVI launched new guidelines for those who claim the Virgin Mary has appeared to them, in an attempt to end bogus sightings around the globe.



The next 6 months should prove to be very interesting and very unpredictable.
Namaste!

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.