Looking into the Lunation Cycle
By
William Bento

“As a man learns to control the genesis, development
and recurrence of his experiences, he achieves mastery.
This is the goal of the adept or the scientist---a goal
which deals with the accurate timing of actions and
the adjustments to expected reactions.”

This leading thought was written by Dane Rudhyar, noted theosophist, philosopher, pioneer of humanistic astrology and all around modern renaissance individual. He wrote these words for his introduction to the book The Lunation Cycle (1967). He proposes alongside the objective calendar/clock time there exist a quality of subjective duration, a time of experiential rhythms that are connected to particular unique, unrepeatable conditions. The co-existence of objective time and subjective duration creates in the consciousness of each individual a dynamic of deep-seated conflict. It is a conflict between the desires to participate in or be subservient to collective and social patterns, and the will to express one’s own sense of identity. In short, it is a tension between allowing unconscious compulsions to hold sway or to direct consciously intended actions into the flow of one’s life.

Being aware of both factors, objective time and subjective duration, is what gives an individual the possibility “to control the genesis” of his or her life situations. The first factor of objective time establishes the parameters for human experiences. It is the cosmic given set of criteria as in the season of the year, placement of the Sun, Moon, and planets. The second factor of subjective duration is not a given, but an option wherein we may pause and become aware of our experiences, feelings and intentions before acting. It is in this realm that creativity and freedom, hallmarks of the human spirit, can be expressed. Understanding this allows us to deepen our relationship with the cosmos, and to enter into a boundless dimension of time wherein consciousness expands to include Spiritual Beings concerned with Humanity’s evolution.

There is no better or more fundamental Heavenly cycle to observe and experience than the lunation cycle. It is the cycle that reveals to us the great archetypal transformations of light and darkness. Its cycle (from New Moon to New Moon) is 29 days, 12 hours, and 44 minutes on the average. The influences of the waxing (increasing light) and waning (decreasing light) phases of the Moon have been well established and scientifically measurable factors having to do with the regulation of all fluid bodies of the Earth—the tides, the women’s menstrual cycle, etc. Beyond this physical dimension of influences, folklore and spiritual traditions have addressed the relatedness of the lunation cycle to the many faceted levels of soul life.

The Moon’s orbit circulates around the Earth defining the biosphere or what we can refer to as the etheric world. It is the realm of formative life forces that govern the growth of plants and all biological species on Earth. Its influence is psychic in nature and primarily affects our fluid organism, giving rise to our fluctuating emotional states. As such lunar influences are often pervasive, and mostly lying in an unconscious part of our psyche. Learning to pay attention to the lunation cycle can help us live into the flow of energies that are streaming into the psychic sphere.

New Moons are times of darkness. They portend new possibilities seeded into the bio and psychic sphere of the Earth. It is often an excellent time to exercise a meditative moment and attempt to identify the new elements streaming through one’s own unconscious, as well as to consciously affirm new intentions for the future. It is not only the zodiacal placement of the New Moon that can give us invaluable information as to the themes of the cycle to come. The planetary configurations at the time can also broaden our awareness and focus our own possibilities for being the masters of own action.

Our star wisdom ancestors approached the New Moon with a sense of reverence, wonder and awe, often offering their prayers and questions to the Angelic beings that were known to inhabit the sphere of the Moon. Imagine looking into the deep dark of a New Moon night with your questions for self-development in hand and your heart full of a sacred acknowledgement that your prayers may be heard in a very special way. This attitude was not merely expected, but cultivated in many cultures that sought their guidance from the Heavens.

In their wisdom our ancestors saw each New Moon as an opening of the portal to higher realms of the astral world. In this realm Spiritual Beings spoke to humanity in the language of the stars. It was the task of priest/priestess to decipher what was being revealed and to make recommendations as to what type of offerings were required and what kind of actions were being called for in the upcoming lunation cycle. Today we are all in the position of priest/priestess. It is up to us to learn how to read and act in accordance with the Heavens; not merely for our own sake, but for the benefit of all humankind on Earth. If we do not take this learning in earnest, then unconscious compulsions of fear, hate and doubt will continue to dominate human affairs, both individual and global. It is on our shoulders to meet these opportunities of the New Moon with conscious intentions to act out of courage, truth and love.

On November 23, 2003 a total solar eclipse will take place in the sidereal sign of Scorpio, creating a kind of double darkness in our midst. Both Sun and Moon shall be without light (albeit the Sun for only a brief period of time). The significant phenomenon to be experienced is the shadow cast upon the Earth. It has more bearing upon our psyche than is often noticed by our modern intellectual culture. Rudolf Steiner sheds light on this phenomenon in a lecture given June 25, 1922 in Dornach, Switzerland.

“At the time of a solar eclipse, for instance, something totally different takes place in the part of the Earth affected from what is happening when there is no eclipse. When we know that on the one hand the rays of the Sun penetrate down to the Earth and on the other hand the forces or rays of will stream out to meet the Sun, it is possible to form some idea of how a solar eclipse can affect these radiations of will which are altogether spiritual in their nature. The sunlight is blocked by the Moon; that is a purely physical process. But physical matter—in this case the body of the Moon—is no obstacle to the forces streaming out from the will. These forces radiate into the darkness, and there ensues a period of time, short though it may be, in which all that is of the nature of will upon the Earth flows out into universal space in an abnormal way. It is different altogether from what takes place when there is no eclipse. Ordinarily, the physical sunlight unites with the radiations of will streaming towards it. When there is an eclipse, the forces of will flow unhindered into cosmic space.

The old initiates knew these things. They saw that at such a moment all the unbridled impulses and instincts of humanity surge out into the cosmos. And they gave their pupils the following explanation. They said: Under normal conditions the evil impulses of will which are sent out into the cosmos by humans beings are, as it were, burned up and consumed by the rays of the Sun, so that they can injure only man himself, but can do no universal harm. When, however, there is an eclipse of the Sun, opportunity is given for the evil, which is willed on Earth to spread over the cosmos. An eclipse is a physical event behind which there lies a significant spiritual reality.”

Given this view of a solar eclipse and the current state of world events, might we all not have reason to be concerned? I do not ask this question to prompt fear or panic, but to raise conscientiousness about our role in the world we live in today. Each of us can take up a more conscious posture to the solar eclipse, particularly when we know more about the specific zodiacal theme and planetary configuration accompanying this celestial event.

Let us examine some of the more pertinent details of this New Moon solar eclipse. It takes place in the sign of Scorpio, a sign that reflects the mysteries of the will itself. Issues concerning the intimate nature of relationships and social life may well be highlighted in this sign. Unchecked egotistic inflation, prideful arrogance, and the will for domination are all probable demons in this hour. These are the vices of Scorpio when left unattended. It cast shadowy disturbances not only into relationships, but also into social situations both local and global in proportion. Power, sex, and money have become, unfortunately, the outlets for this type of blind instinctual expression. The urge to stalk one’s prey is not something human beings are exempt from. In fact it is this urge, which has given mega corporations the advantage it now exercises over the populace, and particularly the poor and disenfranchised.

The virtues connected to Scorpio, humility, patience, and insight, are well worth pondering during this time. Humility in regard to the way we deal with each other can avert the tendency to over-power the other. Patience in regard to sexual matters can curb the seductive appetite and illusion that Wall Street marketers are so constantly embedding into every image intended to sell us the formula of “ product consumed equals sex guaranteed”. Insight into true values as opposed to money as a social measure of worth can liberate us from its grip upon our own self-esteem. These virtues contemplated at the moment of the eclipse can have more than prophylactic effects for us individually. It can stream out of our hearts and into the psychic sphere acting, as would the power of the Sun.

When we think of what this eclipse may catalyze in the world arena of political and economic affairs, it is not difficult to imagine that covert plots to seize even more control and more economic resources could take place. Although we may never know the details or the plans, we can nevertheless act in a way that collectively galvanizes the intention for protecting each other’s welfare, acting out of a brotherly and sisterly concern. We can do this by exercising our resolve to administer positive thoughts, feelings, and deeds on the eclipse day.

As this solar eclipse takes place in the USA chart’s twelfth house, it begs of us to beware of the sector of our population that may be suffering either from lack of health care or economic means to provide for themselves and their families. Given such powers as “The Patriot Act” and the Homeland Security’s continual free license to amend the “Bill of Rights” we might also be wary of further infringements to our taken for granted rights. The karma of the nation is at stake and such an eclipse as this could open the doors to a less than benign democracy in our midst. It behooves us to collectively find our voice and proclaim, re-instate the American values life, liberty and the right to pursue a common good for the benefit of all.

Accentuating this theme in Scorpio is the entry of Venus into this sign on the 23rd of November. On this day we will also experience the tension of a major planetary configuration involving the conjunction of Mercury and Pluto in Scorpio at 90-degree angles to Mars in Aquarius and Jupiter in Leo. Thoughts and decisions made in private realms about social, political, and economic issues may well be exposed as the will for social change mounts and the need for open public discourse increases. Seeking for the hidden factors behind the dominant powers that govern may meet with some success, even if it were to come at some considerable emotional expense.

The last time Mars in Aquarius was in opposition to Jupiter in Leo was October 1956. At that time social political activism was at a peak. The UN Security Council was called to step into matters concerning the Suez dispute, Hungary was experiencing an uprising against the Communist Soviet rule, Israeli troops invaded the Egyptian Sinai peninsula, the UK and France bombed Egyptian airfields, and Fidel Castro began his revolt in Cuba. Needless to say the world was at considerable unrest. It is as equally a world out of balance as it was then. Similar planetary configurations often reflect back to us karmic consequences of what occurred the last time the planets observed world events from that position in the Heavens. How will we act for Peace and deter threats of War?

On December 23, 2003 the New Moon will be in the sign of Sagittarius. What may have transpired in the dark places away from the light of day last month may now come to the forefront of our consciousness. With this sign being active in the psychic sphere we may detect a stronger need to speak out for the truths that re-affirm our religious, philosophical and/or cultural beliefs. This New Moon falls very near the same degree that the Saturn/Uranus conjunction occurred in 1988. Could it trigger the memories of “Perestroika” and the enormous impact it had on dissolving the Cold War? One can only hope that such a memory can awaken the terrible sleeping giant of a war-mongering world to come to its senses.

Mercury will be in retrograde motion in Sagittarius forming an opposition to Saturn in the sign of Gemini at the time of the New Moon. Minds may be inclined to redefine agendas and long term plans so as to be in alignment with relevant historical information being made available. There are fewer aspects than this capable of conveying to us the need to be more conscientious about our ideas. Being mindful before speaking and committing to a course of action is precisely what is required here.

This New Moon sets a tone for Christmas that may engender restraint in the consumer madness typical of this time of year. Out of this tone it may be possible to give more reflective time to the deeper meaning of Christmas in our lives. May we all find the Christmas Spirit that illuminates the highest in each one of us.