November 20, 2011
A quarrel is quickly settled when deserted by one party: there is no battle unless there be two. Seneca
Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back into the same box. Italian proverb
It is one of man’s curious idiosyncrasies to create difficulties for the pleasure of resolving them. Joseph Marie De Maistre
No one ever won a chess game by betting on each move. Sometimes you have to move backward to get a step forward. Amar Gopal Bose
What a strange game. The only winning move is not to play. Anon–On war games
Competition is what keeps me playing the psychological warfare of matching skill against skill and wit against wit. Lou Brock
Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake. Savielly Grigorievitch Tartakower–Chess master
Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game. Goethe
The new Moon in Sagittarius happens on November 25 and is a partial solar eclipse which happens just hours after Mercury goes retrograde. This is the first of two eclipses, the second one will be on December 10, in Gemini, and will be a total lunar eclipse.
The Sabian Symbol for the new Moon is Sagittarius 3: Two Men Playing Chess. With the current unrest on the planet, it seems that things are going to heat up on many levels from the Occupy Wall Street Protests to the potential bombing of Iran. Chess is a great game of strategy and forward planning and thinking, but the object of the game is to 'eliminate' the opposing force, to wipe it off the board. One of the questions that may arise could involve how you're doing on that score – are you playing a losing game? Are you being taken advantage of or hoodwinked? If you do the thing you're thinking about, how will others respond? How will you respond to any challenges placed in your path? This is a solar eclipse, which can bring up strong energies and events that feel like terminations along with new beginnings rising out of it.
From my book The Sabian Oracle: 360 Degrees Of Wisdom
‘Two Men Playing Chess’ is an image of people concentrating and planning moves in order to defeat their opponent in a game. They have to be quiet, focused and attuned to what it is they’re doing if they want to succeed. The theme of a ‘Chess’ game is to knock the opponent out, to literally kill the king, and to take his position and his territory. There can be a certain degree of tension in the air as each tries to “checkmate” the other. First, one may appear to be “winning”, and then the other may make a sudden, sometimes completely unexpected or unforeseen move, get the upper hand and take the whole game. Alternatively, it could be an all-out slaughter if one person is more practiced or efficient at the game than the other.
You may need to be thoughtful and cautious about the moves you make and the risks that you are prepared to take. It’s important to take into account the wider picture and all the possible outcomes of any actions taken. Impulsive acts with no forward planning will probably be risky and may lead to others taking advantage of the situation. The same thing can happen if you show your weak side. There can be a lot at stake here if you lose, but there may be much to be gained if you win. Effective strategies and forward thinking maneuvers are needed. Take some time to compose yourself and assess what’s really going on: you may then find the way forward or out of the maze or conflict. It can be very difficult to relax in this type of competitive environment – one often feels that they can’t let their guard down for one moment in case they are taken advantage of, or overtaken, in some way. Keep your concentration focused on the main aim and outcome. Take one step at a time, thinking all the while, and move with purpose and forethought.
Keywords: Strategic competition. Seeing the picture several moves ahead. Arguments that can go on and on. Finding justification for being combative. Throwing down the gauntlet to the other. Taking lives. The need for peacekeeping. War strategies. Matching wits. Facing each other head on. Being royalty or being a mere pawn. Tactical maneuvers. Lawsuits.
The Caution: Depending on pure luck. Underestimating the opponent’s skill or strategy. Arguments and arguing for the sake of it. Bickering and trying to get the better of the other. Always taking an opposing side, no matter what is really happening.
This is quite a strong Sagittarian new Moon with the Sun, Moon, the Moon's north node, Mercury and Venus all in that sign. Such a strong Sagittarian signature can bring up issues to do with foreign countries and people, politics, issues to do with the broader picture, the law and lawyers, one's philosophical or spiritual beliefs, etc.
The karmic Moon's north node is on Sagittarius 15: The Groundhog Looking For Its Shadow On Groundhog Day. Do you find yourself waking up with the same reality every day? Are you repeating the same old patterns that don't further you and keep you wallowing in 'winter' when 'the spring' could be available to you? Are others projecting their 'shadow' onto you, confusing you and making it difficult to see positive, sometimes simple, solutions?
Keywords: Looking back, reading the signs. Divination and other systems of inquiry. Seeing society as being to blame. People having a good look at how they seem to others. Wondering how others perceive you and picture you. Prophets that can tell the “weather” ahead of time. Predictions. Prognosticating. Welcoming an early spring. Scrutinizing objectives. Looking to nature for clues.
The Caution: Being scared to act without some message of confirmation. People (or society) looking for someone to blame for conditions. Relying on the same solutions without consideration of changes. Blizzards and the cold.
Endeavouring to see what's really going on, or to take in someone else's point of view, may prove to be difficult, as Mercury is going to be stationing (slowing right down) before going retrograde and retracing its steps. Mercury is on Sagittarius 21: A Child And A Dog Wearing Borrowed Eyeglasses. This degree is, therefore, emphasized strongly. What lenses are you wearing? Are you seeing things as clearly as possible? Are you somehow fooling yourself about something?
Another strongly highlighted degree is the 'Karmic Condition' of the above degree. Mercury will spend several days on it: Sagittarius 20: In Winter People Are Cutting Ice From A Frozen Pond For Summer Use.
Keywords: Overcoming difficulties ahead of time through creative solutions to problems. Strategies for survival in harder times. Stocking up and storing supplies. Savings and funds. Pension plans. Retirement plans. Work and renovation. Planning for changes in external or internal realities. Seeing shortages ahead of time. Snow. Ice. Freezing conditions. Divorce settlements.
The Caution: Stoic acceptance of difficulties. Not seeing ahead of the times. Failing to plan for the future and just hoping that all will work out okay. Sitting on your hands when you should be working for future possibilities. People storing up hurts or insults for later. Extortion.
Further, Mercury is spending considerable time on Sagittarius 19: Pelicans Disturbed By
The Garbage Of People Move Their Young To A New Habitat.
Keywords: Concerns with survival. The endeavor to achieve mental, physical or emotional well-being or peace. Noise and other irritants that make life difficult. Looking out for the safety and security of one’s children, home or creative ventures. Feeling unsafe with conditions being insecure and unpredictable. Having nowhere to rest.
The Caution: Mess and rubbish left around. Not being prepared to compromise or cohabit. People not being able to live together. “Fouling of one’s nest”. Being told that things are being done “for your own good” regardless of what you want. Noise driving people out. Leases running out.
Amongst many other, more personal ramifications that could emerge with this new Moon, issues to do with climate change and global warming could become more evident, or, there could be strong indications of how we and our money is not protected and how vulnerable we can be.
Venus is smack on the Galactic Center, a placement that is said to represent and reflect 'the Mind of God'. This is a powerful point in the zodiac and responds very well to the Law of Attraction and can provide some very useful answers. The Sabian Symbol is Sagittarius 28: A Splendidly Built Bridge, A Heritage Of Unknown Ages, Still Spans The Beautiful And Wildly Primitive Stream.
The Karmic Condition of Venus is Sagittarius 27: A Sculptor's Vision Is Taking Form. This, and the Bridge degree above, both being on the Galactic Center which is an enormous vortex of energy, are very powerful degrees for actualizing one's vision, for tapping into what it is that you really want. What do you want to be doing? Are you living your own version of Groundhog Day? (I would venture to think that the vast majority of people do).
For many now, there is the big opportunity to be even more of a 'Bridge'. There's the bridge between you and others, you and your God, your ambitions for the future, with your spiritual beliefs, etc.
Further, Mercury will transit over these degrees at the end of the first week in January, so it seems that the momentum of these interesting times is pushing towards more self actualization.
Mars is on it's extremely long and protracted journey through Virgo. Mars is on Virgo 7: A Harem, which could be asking the question of how you fit into the larger scheme of things. How do you fit into the smaller picture? How have you placed yourself in the hierarchy of people, relationships and rewards? Do you feel that you have an important role to play, are taken seriously and valued? With this degree, especially with Mars on it, there can be ramifications of people feeling like it's never 'their turn' or that they can't rise through the ranks to put their head above the crowd. Do loved ones take you for granted?
Keywords: Rising above jealousy, arrogance and passion. Waiting to be bestowed with the gift of being “chosen”. Women’s circles, sometimes closed. Women’s groups. Working together. Sharing feminine rituals and stories. Egyptian tales. One person calling the shots. Beauty salons. Seduction of the senses. Having one’s needs serviced. Women pampering each other. People who serve.
The Caution: Being just one of “the mob”. Assuming the right to dominate others or those in less powerful social circumstances. Not having a sense of personal importance. Mistrust of other women. Seeing them as competition. The spread of socially unacceptable diseases. Locked doors.
Watch your words and thoughts and the messages from the world around you as Pluto is in a nice trine aspect with Mars and Pluto's placement is on a powerful degree – Capricorn 7: A Veiled Prophet Speaks, Seized By The Power Of A God. This is an empowering aspect and one that can help break through the stories that are within and around you.
Keywords: Hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion. Manipulation of lesser beings. Having insights that transport to another level. Channeling and medium ship. Translations. Prophets and bringers of messages. Empowerment. Messages erupting. Speaking. Announcing. Bearing important messages. Power. Charisma.
The Caution: Conscious manipulation and propaganda. Not owning up to all the elements of one’s personality. Denying expression. Blurting out things that hurt or alienate. Barging into other’s conversations. Leading people astray with exaggeration or lies.
I do hope that Mars and Pluto on these degrees does not have the war drums beating louder, especially with a partial lunar eclipse on the Two Men Playing Chess degree.
Financial markets are continuing to be all over the place and many are concerned about their financial futures. Chiron – the "wound and the healing and the stories we tell ourselves" – is on Pisces 1: A Crowded Public Marketplace. This is impacting on many and people are beginning to realise that they own so much 'stuff'. How much stuff do we really need in our lives? What value do we place on what we have to offer out there in the 'Marketplace'? Do you practice a form of 'retail therapy'?
Neptune is now direct and on Aquarius 29, where it will be up until we go into 2012. The Symbol is A Butterfly Emerging From A Chrysalis.
Keywords: Slow building of confidence. Coming out into a fuller participation in the bigger picture. Growing up and out. Emerging from the dark. Leaving yesterday behind. Becoming more and more beautiful. Finding one’s feet or wings. Metamorphosis. Huge changes in the works. Giving up struggling. The drama of new life unfolding.
The Caution: Failing to allow changes to be experienced. Feeling like one will never “arrive”. Struggling to emerge ahead of time. Feeling confined. Being tied to the past. Rushing leading to disorientation or injury.
Uranus is urging us to emerge as well, it's on Aries 1: A Woman Has Risen Out Of The Ocean, A Seal Is Embracing Her. This is a double whammy of new beginnings with Uranus coming out of Pisces and into Aries and starting a brand new cycle. Add to that the Symbol of the 'Woman Emerging', and we have a powerful message of leaving the past behind.
Jupiter could have some interesting tricks up his sleeve. The Symbol is Taurus 2: An Electrical Storm Illuminates The Heavens And The Forests. Things feel set to heat up in some way…
Keywords: Reverence for the forces of nature. Loud cracks, flashes,and bangs that clear the air. Flashes of insight. Tension and its release. Electrical conductors. The sense that all hell is going to break loose. Short circuits of mind or emotions. Electricity failures. Crackling emotions. Flashes in quick succession. Bursts of energy.Light changing. Psychic clearing. Hot flushes. Surges.
The Caution: Being frozen in fear just when one needs to spur to action. Losing control. Being distracted by surroundings. Not being completely aware of all the potential dangers. Worry that overtakes and engulfs. Chaos in the brain. Nervous reactions.Things changing quickly. Brilliance that is quickly or easily lost. Power blackouts.
It seems that it's (again) time to pull our socks up!
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