On March 2, 2017, the U.S. Sibly chart will begin the 3rd
Quarter of its 8th progressed lunar cycle, which ends on March 25,
2024, when a new cycle begins. The coming transits and outer planetary cycle
milestones (not to mention eclipses) during this time period all concur that
this time frame will be significant—I would argue they will be all the more
significant because they will be unfolding within this closing progressed 3rd
Quarter.
By tracking significant planetary factors within that
national cycle, we can examine not only the broad strokes of our history and
current events, but some of their more telling details and nuances.
This 3rd
progressed quarter context will provide an underlying theme for the coming 7 years—finishing unfinished business;
clearing out outworn realities and healing divisive wounds so the way is open for
something new.
Even without considering this progressed cycle, mundane
astrologers are abuzz with the prospects of this post-Election 2016 period—with
good reason. For starters, a powerful total solar eclipse (visible in the U.S.)
will transpire on August 21, 2017; Uranus moves into Taurus in May, 2018 after
separating from its long square with Pluto; the current Libra Saturn-Pluto
cycle wanes rapidly and begins anew at 22°+Capricorn
in January, 2020; the Jupiter-Saturn cycle reboots at 0°+ Aquarius in December that same year (a highly
significant turning point); transiting Pluto returns to its U.S. Sibly chart
position at 27°+ Capricorn
in February 2022, and in March, 2023, Pluto shakes the earth off its feet and
steps into electric Aquarius.
One year later, in March, 2024, the Sibly chart
begins its 9th progressed lunar cycle at 19°+ Pisces. And so it goes.
These are just the broad strokes—the Cosmos will be filling
in the blanks with all sorts of interesting comings and goings within that
2017-2024 timeframe. Today I’d like to focus on background theme provided for
us during that period by the Sibly progressed lunar cycle.
What goes round…
The nation’s progressed lunar cycle (roughly 30 years)
reflects the evolution of the U.S. as an astrological entity, and with its
predictable stages it reveals the always amazing ways in which history repeats
and builds upon itself.
Because the Sun in a mundane, national chart represents the
Executive (president, prime minister, monarch, etc.), and the Moon reflects the
citizens of that nation, the relationship between these two luminaries speaks
to the relationship between those key government stakeholders. Since the Sibly
chart features a forward-thinking, rebellious but collective-minded Aquarius
Moon, and a growth-and-security oriented Cancer Sun, it’s no surprise that
Americans have had a love/hate relationship with government from the get-go. Even more interesting is how that relationship
has evolved over 240 years of history—it’s all there to see in our national
progressed lunar cycle. Judging by today’s “government report card” polls, the
People-vs.-Washington face off has never been more tense. According to this
cycle, our widespread desire for deep change is right on schedule.
Let’s rough
out the picture:
Progressed New Moon
|
Progressed 1st Quarter
|
Progressed 2nd Quarter
|
Progressed 3rd Quarter
|
Cycle Mode
|
Cycle Triplicity
|
Sibly House(s)
|
10/14/1994
20°Aq
|
Fixed
|
Air
|
3
|
|||
6/10/2001
27°Aq-27° Tau
|
Fixed
|
Air-Earth
|
3-6
|
|||
12/25/2008
4° Pis-4° Vir
|
Mutable
|
Water-Earth
|
3-9
|
|||
3/2/2017
12° Pis-12°
Sag
|
Mutable
|
Water-Fire
|
4-1
|
Anyone watching national and world events since 1994 knows
that American life has changed a lot during
this period (recent polls suggest not for
the better overall). Our role and stature in the world have both taken a
beating; our economy has shed millions of well-paid jobs and replaced them with
a part-time/ “on call” service-oriented economy that undermines the so-called
“American Dream” in a long list of ways; our public infrastructures, many school
systems and a number of key cities have sunk into crisis from lack of
investment. Environmental degradation and climate change are observable,
increasingly costly realities—certainly an escalating trend since 1994.
Adding to the overwhelm is the war-making pattern we’ve carried
forward with us from the 20th century: somehow, every so many years
there’s another military intervention looming on the horizon—just often enough
to keep our national budget priorities seriously out of whack. With the rise of
terrorism we’ve seen in this 3rd quarter of the 1982 Saturn-Pluto
cycle, the geopolitical dominance games we’ve been playing in the Middle East
are being revealed for what they’ve always been—a Faustian trap. We’ll consider
how this is also playing out within the progressed lunar cycle.
Perhaps at the root of all the above, an overwhelming flood
of so-called “Wall Street” money (shorthand for the combined weight of
corporate and other vested interest money) was gradually unleashed on our
political system during this 1994-2016 period, culminating in the Supreme
Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision.
Is it any wonder we’ve seen deep public anger expressed in
this election cycle? The desire for fundamental, systemic change that would
break all the no-win patterns we’ve developed is truly palpable. Fortunately,
the last quarter of the progressed lunar cycle approaching in March 2017
appears to support progress in this direction, but it’s not likely to happen in
one 4-year election cycle.
In fact, if it isn’t undermined by “yet another war” or
serious internal unrest (more on this ahead), any progress we make is likely to
happen in a series of “two-steps-forward, one-step-back” stages of change.
Several key astrological milestones will chime in along the way, but the
background music (so to speak) for the unfolding change will start its “3rd
movement” (progressed 3rd quarter lunar cycle) beginning on 3/2/2017,
with progressed Sun at 12°
Pisces and progressed Moon at 12°
Sagittarius. As noted, the 3rd quarter will close out the
1994 cycle and set the stage for the Sibly chart’s 9th progressed
lunar cycle beginning on March 25, 2024 (see Table above).
Let’s examine two biwheels for this event: Biwheel 1 shows how the new quarter
compares to the U.S. (Sibly) chart; and Biwheel
2 shows the transits in force when that new cycle launches.
Biwheel 1: (inner
wheel) natal, USA (Sibly), July 4, 1776, 5:10 p.m., LMT, Philadelphia, PA;
(outer wheel) USA (Sibly), day-for-year progression for March 2, 2017 at 12:00
a.m. GMT, Washington, D.C.
Interchart T-square: Progressed Moon conjoins Sibly ASC
(Sagittarius) and opposes Sibly Uranus/Mars (midpoint) & DSC (Gemini);
Progressed Sun (Pisces) squares this opposition from the Sibly 4th. Nations
develop “itchy trigger fingers” with intense configurations like this; our U.S.
executive in 2017 could be inclined to shoot first and think later, simply to assert
his/her dominance and authority. A dramatic incident could stimulate such a
reaction—hard aspects to the Sibly horizon have figured into past attacks, most
notably on 9/11/2001. Such incidents have a way of galvanizing Americans to
rally around Washington (especially a new Commander-in-Chief) and to oppose an
outside enemy rather than each other. There is
justified concern about growing internal unrest (progressed Sun in 4th
square Sibly Uranus), but we may want to think twice about using an external
conflict to put off dealing with internal divisions. This progressed 3rd
quarter is our opportunity to confront and work on internal divisions.
Progressed Mars (Rx Libra) conjoins Sibly Saturn (Libra) and trines
Sibly Mars/Uranus (Gemini). Mars conjunct Saturn in Cardinal signs
denotes aggressive impulses, although with Mars Rx by progression since 2006,
the actions we’ve taken as a nation have tended to fall short of the desired
results. Saturn rules Congress, so pressure will be brought to bear on them to
act—the P (progressed) Mars trine to Sibly Mars/Uranus suggests an attempt to
assert dominance that may or may not unfold as planned. Pressure on Congress to
fund a military campaign could also be indicated (see below for Venus’s
involvement).
Interchart T-square: Progressed Venus (Aries) squares both Sibly
Mercury (Cancer) and Sibly Pluto (Capricorn) and sextiles Sibly Moon
(Aquarius). Adding to the intensity, Mars disposes Progressed Venus in
Aries, and she in turn squares Sibly Mercury, ruling the 7th house
of open enemies and the 10th house—a Virgo house that speaks to the U.S.
military’s involvement in the world. Venus also squares Sibly Pluto, ruling the
Sibly 12th, suggesting a more behind-the-scenes dimension to
government activities—especially in regards to negotiations, resources and
finances.
Other possibilities exist for this configuration besides
military action—i.e., major legislation passed during this 3rd
progressed quarter to radically reduce prison (12th house)
populations and perhaps to reform the corporate prison industry. Unfortunately,
we may also have to be wary of the growing Zika virus threat (Pluto’s rulership
here is reinforced by Neptune’s natural affinity for the 12th). We
now know that Zika can be transmitted sexually, so Venus’s role here could be
especially strong in Aries. The P Venus sextile to Sibly Moon suggests the
public will be motivated to participate in whatever transpires (5th
house Sibly).
Progressed Mercury (Aquarius) conjoins Sibly Moon (Aquarius), trines
Sibly Mars and inconjoins Sibly Neptune (Virgo). Mercury rules the
Virgo Ascendant of this progressed 3rd quarter chart, making Mercury’s
position in Aquarius more potent than we might expect. Mercury rules public
media communications, and with these aspects we can expect a frustrating lack
of transparency (P Mercury-Sibly Neptune) when it comes to military or health (Virgo)
matters and to the actions being taken in our name on the world stage (Sibly 10th).
We are likely to see a major recruitment effort (Mercury trine Sibly Mars) for
these projects.
Biwheel 2: (inner
wheel) natal, USA (Sibly), July 4, 1776, 5:10 p.m., LMT, Philadelphia, PA; (outer
wheel) Transits, March 2, 2017, 1:56:40 p.m. ST, Washington, D.C.
Interchart T-square: Transit Mercury-Sun-Neptune (Pisces) square
Sibly ASC-DSC axis (drawing in Sibly Uranus/Mars); Transit Mercury-Neptune
trine Sibly Venus-Jupiter-Sun (Cancer). This t-square reinforces
concerns mentioned with Biwheel 1—especially with the Sibly’s volatile
Mars/Uranus (midpoint) in Gemini. Pisces Mercury-Neptune square that midpoint
also raises concerns about public health and possible epidemic threats (see the
4/29/16 post here for
more on the Zika epidemic), although the trine to Sibly Venus (ruling 6th
house)-Jupiter (ruling ASC) and Sun (ruling 9th) may soften the
threat. Trines tend to unleash both positive and negative dynamics, however, so
this will be something to watch.
Interchart T-square: Transit Venus (Aries) opposes Sibly Saturn
(Libra); both square Sibly Sun (Cancer); Transit Venus also trines Sibly ASC
(Sagittarius) and sextiles Sibly DSC (Gemini). This tense cardinal
t-square suggests that Congress and the Judiciary will be under fire to
accomplish something major—confirming a new Supreme Court Justice could be the
issue, but other deep conflicts could erupt over national budgets (Venus) and
Executive powers (Sun). Pretty much the status quo, only here the stakes appear
to be pretty high. In belligerent Aries, Venus could be pushing for higher
defense budgets, or—worst case scenario—for imposing martial law.
Interchart T-square: Sibly Mercury (Cancer) opposes Sibly Pluto
(Capricorn); both ends square Transit Uranus-Eris-Mars (Aries); the Aries
points trine Transit Saturn (Sagittarius) and inconjoin Sibly Neptune (Virgo). With
Sibly Mercury’s rulership of the 7th and 10th houses,
this tense set of aspects raises the disruptive potential of the overall
Biwheel. The late Aries gathering here (including Venus trailing behind
Mars-Eris-Uranus) square Pluto and trine Saturn is a volatile, discordant mix—there
is likely to be a whole lot of head-butting going on. I don’t want to overstate
the negatives here, and disruptive events may not follow immediately, but
because this chart represents the beginning of an entire cycle phase, we’ll
want to watch the entire 2017-2024 time period for volatility. Passions are
running high this election cycle and there will be winners and losers, which
could result in a great deal of unrest on the streets, ratcheting up the
existing tensions between some groups.
Naturally, tensions caused along our borders, or as a
consequence of controversial immigration policies, could also run high and are
reflected in the Aries-Virgo inconjunct to Neptune. One particularly tense
period for all these reasons could be the one surrounding the August 21, 2017
total solar eclipse (visible across the U.S.). Discussing this eclipse in
detail will require an entire post (soon).
Interchart “Wedge”
aspect: Transit Jupiter (Libra) sextiles
Transit Saturn (Sagittarius) and Trines Sibly Mars (Gemini); Transit Saturn
opposes Sibly Mars and squares Sibly Neptune; Transit Jupiter opposes Transit
Mars-Uranus and semi-sextiles Sibly Neptune. It’s worth pointing out
that Transit Saturn also conjoins the Galactic Center (26-7° Sagittarius) and overlays
the Sibly 1st house, suggesting that the nation’s foundational
character—its essential “personality”—may be about to undergo some kind of
shocking (Mars-Uranus trine) revision. Between the dispositor network connecting
Aries Venus, Libra Jupiter and Sagittarius Saturn, and the aspects also in play, we could see a drive to express power
and confront opponents more aggressively and more expansively.
Aspects to
Neptune point to possible infrastructure and epidemic challenges. This is
reinforced by T Jupiter’s conjunctions to Sibly Saturn and to Progressed Mars (shown
in Biwheel 1)—all opposed by transiting Aries planets. It appears we are
pushing our systems (Jupiter-Saturn) over their natural breaking points, and
this can manifest in a number of ways.
In the Transit chart
itself: Node (Virgo) trines Moon (Taurus)
and Saturn (out-of-sign Sagittarius); Moon disposes ASC (Cancer). Given
Saturn’s position near the Galactic Center, it appears the Node is pointing to
a new reality unfolding in a somewhat discordant (out-of-sign trine) manner.
It’s worth noting that this Transit Node also conjoins the Progressed ASC
(Virgo-seen in Biwheel 1), which reinforces that our nation is evolving into
that new reality, whatever form that takes. It appears there will be public
support for this direction—Transit Moon trines both Virgo points. Grass roots
tension is likely to persist over this direction: Sibly Uranus (ruling Sibly 3rd)
squares Transit Node. With Transit Node over the Sibly 9th,
international trade and/or immigration issues could be implicated.
Interchart Grand-Square:
Transit Chiron (Pisces) opposes Sibly
Neptune (Virgo); this axis squares Transit Saturn opposite Sibly Mars (Gemini).
Chiron has been transiting within orb of this configuration since
spring, 2015, so it has quite possibly stimulated some of the intensity of the
current election. None of the candidates will emerge from this campaign unscathed—nor
will the election process itself, which is hardly recognizable. Our tolerance
for each others’ opinions and values seems to be at a new low, while cynicism
and anger about the control “others” (including the global economy and would-be
immigrants) wield over our destinies are at new highs.
Mars on the Sibly DSC speaks to the anger-driven surge in
xenophobia we’ve seen; unfortunately, pursuing that path only compounds the
wounds instead of healing them. The “new direction” noted above with T Saturn’s
presence in the Sibly 1st will confront this trap—the grand square
always demands that we solve thorny problems through conscious choices and persistent
action. Can we accommodate each others’ views on these issues (mutable grand
square)? Is there perhaps a “third way” out of our entrenched divisions? Finding
the latter may be just what “Doctor” Chiron ordered in this 2017-2024 period.
Mutable matters
In the meantime, it might help to remember that the
disruptive qualities of mutable cycles do serve a greater purpose; certainly
during this 3rd quarter phase we have an opportunity to face a lot
of old national demons and decide once and for all where we want to stand as a
nation and a people. Are we a viable, united country going forward, or aren’t
we?
Raye
Robertson is a practicing astrologer, writer and former university English
instructor. A graduate of the Faculty of Astrological Studies (U.K.), Raye
focuses on mundane, collective-oriented astrology, with a particular interest
in current affairs, culture and media, the astrology of generations, and public
concerns such as education and health. Several of her articles on these topics
have been featured in The Mountain Astrologer and other publications over the
years. Raye can be contacted by comment here, or
at: robertsonraye@gmail.com.
© Raye Robertson 2016. All
rights reserved.