Message for Weekend of January 20-21, 2024, and the two-month Bright Hermetic Epoch }Defensive Influences{

Message for Weekend of January 20-21, 2024, and the two-month Bright Hermetic Epoch

}Defensive Influences{

People tend to assume that astrologers are pagans. This one is Christian. When I was thirty I was in the blackest, most dismal period of my life. While I was browsing in a bookstore, finding nothing, a total stranger looked at me and said, "Read the Gospels." I replied, "Okay, I will." I didn't say, "Oh, I've read them many times," which was true, because this felt like a message from above. I did as I was told, and for the first time felt the love of Jesus and the gift of redemption in a way which left no doubts.

Since then I read one of the 89 chapters of the four Gospels every day. Today, from Matthew 10: "Whoever then will acknowledge me before men, I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven; and whoever disowns me before men, I will disown before my Father in heaven."

However, like my astrological mentor, Marc Edmund Jones, who was a Christian pastor (Presbyterian), I do not "preach" the Gospel in my strictly astrological writing. I have learned from non-Christian and even anti-Christian astrologers, such as Elbert Benjamine (C. C. Zain) and consider the essence of astrological wisdom to transcend doctrinal belief systems, as does the essence of any other scientific study.

It has fallen out that on Fridays I try to take a broader view of current planetary transits. The Hermetic Epochs, based on Mercury's cycles, lasting about two months, seem the best way of dividing up time for human beings on this planet. A Dark or Slow (more internal) Epoch lasted from November 25 through January 20 (Saturday), and a Bright or Fast (more external or straightforward) Epoch begins Sunday the 21st, until March 19. 

It is hard to evaluate how "good" or "easy" or "smooth" each Epoch will be, but of course the Bright ones seem easier for carrying out definite plans. 

Let's do a little comparison of the Epoch just ending with the new one, using the Dynamic Aptness aspect in each of the two charts (the closest square or opposition). It's not pretty. In the old Epoch it was Uranus opposite Venus and the symbol for Venus (I am using Charubel's which are usually the most accurate of the three systems in these kinds of charts) was: "A man holding a fowl by the neck, strangling it." It wasn't that bad, you say? No, but there are nine other symbols in the chart. If you have been reading the news at all you know of the plight of the Israeli captives in Gaza, for example, and what goes on in Ukraine, and on and on. The symbol for Uranus, "A flag on the top of a mountain," confirms that this could be an international dispute. The "strangler" is, says Charubel, "cruel and a coward, taking advantage of the weak and defenseless." This is going on in the case of the J6 prisoners, many of them held in miserable conditions without even being accused of a crime.

In the new Epoch beginning Sunday, the Dynamic Aptness aspect is Jupiter square Mars, the latter planet in the degree "A sexton digging a grave. A secretive, unsympathetic person who takes pleasure in others' misery." Not again, you say. I concur. But Charubel's symbols are not predominantly ugly ones and so I take them seriously. Well, many supporters of other candidates are "digging Biden's grave" by constantly making fun of his fumbling and implying that he is unfit for office. I do not agree with them and I wince at their cruelty. I do not support him because I disagree with some of his policies. 

Well, the sermon from this is that we ought to observe ourselves and make sure we do not "take pleasure in others' misery" even to a small degree. But of course, taking pleasure in misery is what the online trolls love to do. The symbol for the other plant in that aspect, Jupiter, is "A fork with four prongs resembling a farmyard implement. A laborious person, unambitious, a useful member of society, ever content with his present lot." That would be the way to go. It is what it is.

Venus's degree: "A beacon light on a high rock. One with great intuition. Pay attention to those impressions the world calls foolish, but which show the Divinity speaking through humanity." 

The degree of Rahu, the north node of the moon, often shows underlying karmic issues working out. In the old Epoch now ending it was: "A comet with a very long tail, pointing towards the earth. A notorious character who may become an instrument in the hands of evil powers, so as to bring evil on this earth. Such persons may become the scourge of nations." Zelensky, Putin, the Houthis, Hamas, anybody else? In the new Epoch beginning Sunday: "A man with a sheaf of corn under one arm and a sickle under the other. A hardworking person who may devote his energies to agriculture and will prosper by his labor." Farmers in Germany, France and elsewhere in Europe are rising up and saying, "You are taking us for granted; be fair to us."

Neptune is at: "* * * This is an occult degree. One is sure to be possessed with strange influences. He or she will have a familiar or spirit companion, liable to obsession; its nature determined by his or her own character." 

The moon: "A cross formed of darts, that is, with a barbed termination to each arm. A very positive person of strong will who will never allow anyone to impose on him. He is on the defensive; one with magical abilities." Individuals upholding what is right and fair, let us hope, in this dismal era of "lawfare."

No less than three planets--the sun, Mercury, and Saturn--are in this degree: "A fixed star; a transcendental sun. It sheds a halo of supernal glory on the ascendant." "Psychic power. Much that is not capable of explanation in the light of astrology. He will possess most brilliant gifts but will not be appreciated by the present-day world, simply because it will not understand him. His life will be long on the earth, and his influence will extend to future generations."

There is someone I believe in whom this could represent. What about you?

{Weekend; and new Epoch of January 21-March 18} 

}Defensive Influences{

Saturday 20: Moon in Taurus-->Gemini

/moon goes void-of-course at 5:58a PT | 8:58p ET | 1:58a(Su) UT

until it enters Gemini at 5:59a PT | 8:59a ET | 1:59a(Su) UT (just one minute later)

|Karmic sobering, challenging third| of this week is at its peak

Sunday 21: Moon in Gemini

|Karmic sobering, challenging third| of this week continues until very early Monday