On the 15th April we will have a lunar Eclipse, lots of people have heard about blood moon or Eclipses falling on two important Jewish festivals: Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot. Many people believe that will bring some important issues for the Jewish community. I am not really sure about that . As an astrologer I think about the importance of the Solar Eclipse and the Lunar Eclipse, this April 2014 As Mars and Jupiter both join Uranus Pluto square to form a Cardinal Grand Crosse , so in the following article I will focus on how this Cardinal grand cross affects us.
Grand Cross
A Grand Cross is when more than 4 planets form a square to each other in 4 different signs of the zodiac, usually the signs that the four planets fall in will share same quality. Some astrologers think that a grand cross is a bad aspect pattern but I prefer see it as a difficult partner, and difficult does not mean bad.
I suggest that when we analyse aspect patterns we should not only guess their effect from their name, such us “grand cross,” “Finger of God“ or “Thor’s Hammer” etc … As these names were given by astrologers who used their imagination when they saw the aspect line appearing as something they know rather than representing the exact experience when facing this pattern. A grand cross will not make you become Jesus, a Thor’s Hammer will not make you look like Chris Hemsworth or hurt you .
If we want to learn how Aspect pattern effects us we have to analyse it in two part. The first part is aspects, what kind aspects form this pattern, this give us a idea of how planetary energy flows, is it smooth ? Is it blocked ? How flexible could this pattern be? No chance ? Half- half ? The second part is theme, which we learn from the planets who participate in this pattern. For some aspect patterns we also have to consider signs on the zodiac such as T square Grand Cross and Grand Trine . As they usually fall in same element or quality signs and this can bring an important message.
Cardinal Grand Cross
A Grand Cross usually fall into 4 signs which share same quality , Cardinal , Fixed or Mutable, this suggest we can spot this quality on recent event if this grand cross is currently transiting or on people who have this aspect pattern on their chart.
In April 2014, Mars in Libra ( retrograde ) Jupiter in Cancer , Uranus in Aries and Pluto on Capricorn . Four planets fall into four Cardinal signs . As we know that cardinal signs give us a clear time about the changing of seasons. Aries started Vernal Equinox when the Sun project right on Equator, Cancer is when Sun’s projection on Earth comes to its most northerly point, 23 N 26 . This suggest summers comes to the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the south. Libra starts with the Autumn Equinox as the Sun is back to Equator again and make equal length of day and night and Capricorn is when the Sun comes to the most southerly point, the start of Winter in North Hemisphere.
The word Cardinal come from Latin Cardilis or Cardo, it means the greatest importance, it is pole of axis , four corners of the sky or roman cities, it also means the key point and centre of something . The cardnal sign in our chart usually makes us feel centred , if you have a planet in cardinal use it when you need to know where you are, use it as an original point when you need understanding yourself (measure yourself). It give us a sense of importance. Cardinal planets give us strength to move forward and therefore ancient astrologers also called cardinal Movable sign, usually cardinal planet is also fast acting and focuses on recent issues. In another way we can understand Cardinal planet will not wait and see , they prefer to find out whats going on and to go and solve the problem. They will not let things stop them, depending on the planet they may behave differently. A Cardinal Venus may pass you by saying ‘sorry I am in a hurry’, a Cardinal Mars, Uranus or Pluto may “UPROOT” you even if your are the Ayers rock in Australia .
Now I think we have a little idea about the Cardinal grand cross we are going to face. It forms with four sets of square, square aspect bring tensions and blockage, usually giving a pause in our life making us stay in a place and doing something until it’s perfect. This aspect pattern also includes two sets of opposition, we usually say conflict or challenge , however it is also about seeing and awareness , more awareness of our projection maybe will help turn the conflict to co-operation.
The Dynamic of this aspect pattern holds you in a place and asks you to finish something until it is perfect, meanwhile it asks you to realise that the conflicts that you struggle with not only make you do the perfect job it also brings more self awareness. The difficulty of this aspect pattern is too many things happening at the same time and everything is urgent (Cardinal = greatest Important), it also suggests that we want to put our fingers in every pie. As we only have limited time and energy this could exhaust us.
Cardinal grand cross is like high volume energy being blocked in a closed circle, the moveable natural of Cardinal planet will not just sit and stay , it jumps and will keep crashing into things. Finally they will break out and change everything.
Mars Jupiter Uranus Pluto
The themes of aspect pattern is more about what planet is involved in this pattern. This needs a good idea of the planet meaning, when I was student of astrology I usually had difficulty explaing an aspect which has more than three planets involved, teachers usually told us that they influenced each other. It seems like a famous Chinese dish “chapsui“ you mix everything together. What if we rearrange it and give a structure? for example:
Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto : we can say they influence each other, someone may ask who influences who? who is stronger ? No the problem is who get influenced? if Mars get influenced, The Mars theme of survival, fight, of issue with Man will receive influence of other there planet.
Mars ( Fight ) = Jupiter (Expend ) Uranus ( Independent ) Pluto ( Super Power, colonial country , survival issue )
This suggest the grand cross form by Mars Jupiter Uranus Pluto could suggest a kind of fight .
If there is a fight happen this moment, it could be seen as a reclaim of independence from super power’s control , it does not matter if it is personal or between countries.
So that we can see the Crimea and East Ukraine is a clear example . You may be surprised that the Crimean war, Europe against Russia invading Crimea in 1853 happened in the end of last Uranus Pluto conjunction.
Once you single out a Planet from aspect pattern and use other planet involved in the pattern to describe the quality of this event . This mean we can also apply it on Jupiter Uranus and Pluto too.
Jupiter ( Social develop, Growth , Lucky things, Hope ) = Mars ( action , fight, blood) + Uranus ( Cut off , electric , technic ) + Pluto ( secret , invisible, genetic or cancer )
This may suggest a theme about Improvement Development ( Growth) of Surgery, techniques of cancer or genetic illness.
Uranus ( Change ) = Mars (fight )+ Jupiter ( expansion ) + Pluto ( threaten )
People fight for Change people feel an increased threat .
Pluto ( Crisis , Fear ) = Mars ( survive ) + Jupiter ( future , hope ) + Uranus ( change )
Could this describe that at this moment We are fear change will bring a future survival problem?
This just demonstrate how much Mars Jupiter Uranus Pluto in an aspect pattern can bring us .
When we put this theme with the dynamic together we can have a whole view about this moment . A urge to fight against being controlled by super powers meanwhile you feel trapped.
In another way , we should be more aware of the similar subject of these planets , by comparing two planets , are there any similar subjects? Both Mars and Pluto have survival issues, both Mars and Uranus link to Cut off and Surgery , both Uranus and Jupiter are related to Freedom, Future and Space . These themes will be more easily to spotted during this time.
Eclipse
I spent a long time talking about this grand cross as it will have long lasting effect as it occurs in a Lunar and Solar Eclipse this year. What happens in the Eclipses chart will have at least 6 months influence (3 months before and 3 months after) .
Lunar Eclipse map suggest the area of tension are more liking in Mid east Israel , East Europe ( Ukraine of course ) Thailand Malaysia Indonesia and Australia , Brazil and West coast of US .
Solar Eclipse Astro map suggest we should be more care for with US west coast , Mexico , Brazil , Spain , West coast of Africa , Pakistan , South and East China and Again Thailand Malaysia Indonesia and Australia.
