February Planetary Highlights

Planetary Aspects and Influences for 25 Gamelion to 24 Athesterion

(all times listed are CST, please adjust accordingly!)

01 Feb 08 - Venus conjunct Jupiter: The month begins with fair Aphrodite in conjunction with strong Zeus, which symbolises stregnth and expansion. This aspect shows us that this is a favourable time for letting our emotions and feelings grow; now is not a time to keep things bottled up inside. This is also a period which would be good for any sort of venture concerning the arts - taking up a new interest such as painting, sculpting, or music would be in harmony with the energy of this time. It is also a good time to perform acts of charity or sharing - as both Aphrodite and Zeus are known for their love and generosity.


Moon conjunct Pluto: This aspect symbolises the feminine, emotional energy of Selene combining with the masculine, dark energy of Dis Pluto. It can represent a time of surprising or sudden emotional upheaval. During this period, events may happen unexpectedly, and cause you great upset. Be sure to watch out for blowing up over something small, when what you need to do is look inside yourself for your answer to why/what is making you angry. This is also a period, over the next few days, when you can expect to have some inner struggles about subjects where your emotions and intellect are seemingly at odds; if you use the energy of this time, you can make substantial progress in your personal growth.


02 Feb 08 - Mercury conjunct Neptune: This aspect symbolises all the mental energy and ingenuity of Hermes coupled with the watery, emotional, nature of Poseidon. This is a time when you will have the power of mind and imagination, if you will open yourself to the influence of these Gods in your life. It is possible that during this aspect you will feel especially "sensitive" and recieve psychic and mental impressions that you normally don't recieve -the lesson for you is to learn to be able to discern what these vibrations and impressions mean, and to sort out the good from the bad.

06 Feb 08 - Mercury conjunct Sun: This aspect represents Hermes, who is an intellectual God (as mentioned above) combined with the shining, enlightened outlook of Phoebus Apollo. This aspect is so integral to us as human beings, that the planet of Mercury never moves beyond 28 degrees away from the position of the Sun as we see them from Earth. This means that the Sun and Mercury can only be conjunct with each other - no other aspects, not even a sextile, can form! This is why our intellect and and mental energy influence our outlook and physical energy so much! We are both mind and body, united by spirit into a unity of human being. Now is the time to explore the connection between your mind and body, and to see if any of your mental patters or thoughts are affecting your health; if you want to excise any bad thoughts or negative "tapes" that play in your memory, ask Hermes and Apollo to shower you with good vibes and heal you!


Venus sextile Uranus: This aspect between the loving Aphrodite and the deposed sky god Kronos is a time of opportunity; it is also a time when the unusual and unique will be the norm. This is also a period when you can expect to pick up on vibes and feel extremely creative, incorporating inspiration and dream images into your life and work.

Moon conjunct Sun: Today is the day of the New Moon in Aquarius; there is an annular solar eclipse at 09:45pm (CST) at 17 Aquarius 44 (it is not visible from the US, as it is night). This is the first day of the Greek month Anthesterion, and it is called the noumenia, or new moon celebration. In Greek, this is the month of flowers; it is also the month during which (we aren't exactly sure when) the Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries took place.

Meditations for this lunar month:

• I want to make more time to enjoy a full and varied social life



• I want to make a positive contribution towards a happier world



• I want to meet a group of people who share my interests



• I want a job where my inventiveness can be put to good use



• I want to embrace the unexpected with gladness in my heart

Affirmation for the month of Anthesterion: My horizions are boundless and my experiences enrich my being.

10 Feb 08 - Sun conjunct Neptune: Remember watery Poseidon from the second? Well, now he is conjunct Phoebus Apollo, who we saw interacting with Luna on the sixth through an eclipse. Phoebus Apollo is now fully back from being occulted by the Moon, who in some myths is represented by his sister, Artemis.

14 Feb 08 - Sun trine Mars: This aspect is one that our whole nation needs to learn from, as it is between the intelligent God of the Arts, Apollo and the violent, ill-tempered child of Zeus and Hera, Ares. While Athena rules strategy and the practise of Just War, Ares rules the negative aspects of war - war crimes, brutality, treating soldiers as cannon fodder, and Unjust War. This aspect is teaching us that we should apply the light of Apollo - who rules such areas of life as prophecy, healing, and the arts - to the violent and dark areas of our lives. This can be seen happening in some of the political discourse surrounding the political primaries and caucuses; the Iraq War, the economy, homelessness, health-care, and the environment are all issues that the candidates are debating. Today is a good day to do a mental and spiritual inventory to assess what you are doing in your personal life to shine the light of Apollo effectively on your "Ares areas" - such as sexuality, courage, action, and assertiveness. Having a balance between your Ares and Apollo energy can help you to develop fully in all four of these areas; ask Apollo and Ares for help achieving this balance.

17 Feb 08 - Venus enters Aquarius: This aspect represents Aphrodite coming into relationship with Ganymede, the cup-bearer to the Olympian Gods. It was believed by the Ancient Greeks that Ganymede, after he was carried to the realm of the Gods by the Eagle of Zeus, manifested in our physical world through the constellation Aquarius. This astrological sign is described as being More about the constellation of Aquarius can be read here and here.

18 Feb 08 - Mercury goes direct: Hermes is

Sun enters Pisces:

19 Feb 08 - Sun sextile Pluto: During this aspect, Apollo is in relationship to Dis Pluto .

20 Feb 08 - Moon opposite Sun: This is the 15th of the Lunar Month Athesterion, and it is marked by a total lunar eclipse @ 09:31p (CST) in 01 Virgo 53. The shadow of Apollo is casting darkness across Selene. This means that your emotional nature, which you may feel was overshadowing your "more rational" side during the eclipse on the 6th, is now no longer generating a strugle within you; the tension between heart and head that you felt during noumenia is now back in balance. This balance may have been especially refreshing on the 13th and 14th if you are more in touch with your Apollo nature than your feminine Artemis nature. Enjoy this moment and use it to see how your two natures - the physical and the spiritual - are treated by you in daily life. Do you over-emphasize one while ignoring or down-playing the other? If so, today would be a good day to do a meditation asking both Apollo and Artemis, as representatives of light and the luminaries in later Greek and Roman myths, to help you to balance your emotional and rational sides. You have experienced each eclipsing the other this month, now focus on balance; instead of seeing rationality and emotion as two competeing forces, view them as a single harmonious whole.

24 Feb 08 - Sun opposite Saturn: This symbolises the warm light of Pheobus Apollo standing opposite from the restricted, dark, and limiting Kronos. This is a time for you to look inward and to take a personal inventory - do you focus most or all of your energy towards your self alone? If so, this can be a very difficult period for you; you will encounter experiences and likely setbacks that are meant to teach you to turn your focus outwards. Do you focus most or all of your energy towards others alone? If you answer yes to this, this particular aspect period is meant to help you see that you MUST care for yourself in order to be able to care for others. Remember, aspects are given to us by the Gods so that we can see what we need to "remedy" within ourselves so that we can be happy, healthy, whole men and women.

26 Feb 08 - Venus conjunct Mercury: This aspect brings Hermes and Aphrodite into interaction with one another.

Saturn is retrograde the entire month of February 2008:

note: Mars went direct on 31st January 2008! We have just completed a period in which Ares had great influence upon us living on Ge due to his Retrograde motion - this can be seen in part in the situation in Darfur, Kenya, Afghanistan and most notedly in Iraq. Hopefully this means that conflicts in this area can begin the long, arduous path to peace. Keep the people living in these area in your meditations and offerings for the month; please remember to send positive vibes to and pray for all who are involved in or affected by armed conflict.

The New Demos Athene...

Today is the 24th of Gamelion; the day is sacred to Trietericus, Amphietus Bacchus, Silenus, Satyrus and the Bacchantes. It is described in Works and Days as being "fraught with fate". Aromatic incense (except Frankencense) is recommended.

The gods that are honored today are known as the "rural" or "rustic" dieties, as they were the gods and dieties of the country side and undeveloped natural areas, as opposed to the Greek city-states. Like the untamed areas they oversaw, these gods were known for being rowdy and sometimes downright crude.


Yahoo!Geocities is no longer the home of the Online Temple of Demos Athene; on Wednesday Jan. 30th, the entire site of Demos Athene was lost. The site has now moved to:

http://demosathene.tripod.com/demosathene/index.html

The site is still under construction - I will make progress announcements here.

Astrology for Jan 1st - 5th 2008

Lunations
January 1st – 5th 2008
All times are CST and accurate for Dallas Tx (96W46’ 32N47’)

1st – (24 Poseideon) Moon enters Scoripus @ 1933.

Moon sextile Pluto :
This is a day where you will likely feel emotionally sensitive in areas associated with Plutonian energies – for example grief, loss and mourning if you have lost a loved one recently. Allow yourself to feel and experience these emotions, they are part of the grieving and healing process... a meditation or ritual using the imagery of Selene or Artemis and Pluto might be particularly helpful. Light some incense or pour a libation for the ancestors and the dead.

Moon trine Retrograde Mars :
Due to the retrograde motion of Mars, there could be general feelings of frustration and unresolved anger during this period. While Retrograde Mars is trine the Moon, many people will be inclined to thoughts, actions, and verbal expressions which are not entirely thought through.
Indiscreet, rash, and tactless actions or words can cause sadness, remorse, regret, and possibly humiliation during this aspect. If you are feeling especially emotional or frustrated, be sure to think before you speak or act to avoid problems, disputes, misunderstandings, or fights.
During this period of Retrograde Mars, prepare for feelings of curtailed freedom, obstacles, opposition, lack of opportunities, and a quick temper when dealing with others.

2nd – (25 Poseideon) Moon in Scorpius.

Moon sextile Jupiter :
This is a time to analyse your emotions and feelings related to expansion, faith, optimism, openness, tolerance, acceptance, and multi-culturalism, as these are the areas associated with Zeus (Jupiter). It is important when considering these topics to remember to include how you feel about situations or people which do not embrace these Jupiterian ideals... remember, the true measure of free speech is how we treat those who say things we abhor. A meditation asking Zeus for true inclusivity and acceptance in your life is in the spirit of this aspect.

Moon sextile Retrograde Saturn :
We are currently in a period of Retrograde Saturn. This means that we will experience an atmosphere of hard work with little gain, unexpected (and unplanned for) obstacles, dealys or disappointments, and a general lack of “good luck”. Things that would normally just “fall into place” seem to stagnate or come undone... the lesson to be learned during this period is that we should accept the times such as these with as much excitement and joy as the periods when luck is on our side. The lesson of Kronos is that of “being” versus “doing”. We need to “be” in this moment and understand that we are given everything we need for this moment -- that the Gods have made this moment so we can learn from it. When we “do” – or try to “fix” what we see as a less than perfect situation, we are not only embodying hubris, we are rejecting the lessons of the Gods! This aspect tells us that we should experience our emotions relating to Retrograde Saturn, and see what they tell us about ourselves. A simple ritual that asks for enlightenment from Selene and Kronos is recommended.

Moon sextile Pluto :
This is another day where you will likely feel emotionally sensitive in areas associated with Plutonian energies – for example grief, loss and mourning if you have lost a loved one recently. Allow yourself to feel and experience these emotions, they are part of the grieving and healing process... a meditation or ritual using the imagery of Selene or Artemis and Pluto might be particularly helpful.

Retrograde Mars opposite Pluto :
As mentioned previously, Retrograde Mars will be creating an atmosphere of frustration and quick temper. While the retrograde planet is opposite Pluto, these energies will be especially strong. There will be a tendency or urge to attack people in their areas associated with the dark side of Pluto (for example: secrets, abuse, sexuality, manipulation, death, grief, and mourning)... so be especially compassionate and empathetic during this aspect. If you are a particularly strong Plutonian individual, avoid sensitive individuals, as today you will be particularly intense. This would be a good time to do self work however, and to look at unresolved issues from your past. Ask Mars and Pluto to help you to relieve and release you of your past negative energies.

3rd – (26 Poseideon) Moon enters Capricornus @ 1943.

4th – (27 Poseideon) Moon enters Sagittarius @ 0814.

Moon conjunct Venus :
This is a strongly favourable aspect; it points to happiness, emotional well-being, and satisfaction. You will likely see the beauty in the world around you and feel “in love with life”. Everything will fall into place. You will be in tune with the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of others. This is a great day to enjoy music, art, food, a movie, your love relationship, and all the other fine things in life. Give thanks to Aphrodite and the Gods for all the beauty in the world.

5th – (28 Poseideon) Moon in Sagittarius.

Moon square Retrograde Saturn :
Remember the emotions that you experienced on the 2nd? How are you feeling today? Today we have a square between Moon and Retrograde Saturn. The feelings that you (hopefully) observed and recorded on the 2nd were likely more harmonious and relaxed... while today’s probably feel more conflicted and complicated. This is because we have experienced a shift from a trine (a favourable aspect) to a square (a challenging aspect). There are no “bad” aspects – just some that have a stronger, more intense, and more complex energy to them; the square is one such aspect. This is a great opportunity for you to get out all of your anger and frustration over the limitations of Retrograde Saturn... don’t feel guilty over “hating” the way you feel. That is part of the experience of Moon square Retrograde Saturn – you can feel crappy and have a good cry or yell at a stuffed animal about it! A nice meditation calling upon Selene and Saturn while taking a nice warm bubble bath is in order.

Moon square Uranus :
Here is another square aspect to deal with today. This aspect in general denotes a period of not so good health (feeling under the weather, upset tummy, or fatigue), shifting emotions and feelings, cravings, restlessness, an overactive mind/imagination and a dislike of limitations. Coupled with the previously discussed aspect, this means that you are really pissed at the limitations of Retrograde Saturn. You are getting fed up with the energy that you have been dealing with due to Retrograde Saturn and Mars, and you can’t think of any way to “make it better”. That’s right, you can’t. You aren’t supposed to find an “answer” – this is once again an exercise in “being” instead of “doing”. Ask Uranus to help you view limitations creatively.