Cazimi Mars and Mercury

Are you currently devoid of energy, or irritated by malfunctioning computers? The good news is that next week, Mars and Mercury will be in the heart of the Sun, also known as cazimi.

In his Christian Astrology, William Lilly defines cazimi as follows:

“A Planet is in the heart of the Sun, or in Cazimi, when he is not removed from him 17 minutes, or is within 17 minutes forward or backward …” (CA, p113).

Currently, Mars and Mercury are essentially debilitated. Mars is weakened by being in detriment in Libra (A planet is said to be in detriment when located in the sign opposite its sign of rulership) and Mercury is currently in its retrograde phase, which is thought to cause all kinds of problems with communication, commerce and computers. All of this should temporarily change when Mars and Mercury will be cazimi.

Mars will be cazimi between 07 October 07:22UT and 09 October 00:40UT

Mercury will be cazimi on 09 October between 13:10UT and 19:27UTAzmi

During their cazimi phase, Mars and Mercury will, for a short period of time, be “wondrous strong” as William Lilly wrote (CA, p300).

Or as the famous Persian astrologer Abu Ma’shar wrote in his Great Introduction (trans. Dykes): “And for all planets, if they were with the Sun “in the heart” … then in many matters it indicates good fortune …” (Great Introduction, p438).

As both cazimi phases are not very long, it seems advisable to make the most of them! And by the way, the next time Mercury will be cazimi will be 29 November 2021.

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Cazimi Planets in 2020/21

With Saturn being Cazimi on 14 January, I decided to do a little research to find out about the number of upcoming conjunctions over the next couple of years.

To remind ourselves: Cazimi or “in the heart of the Sun”, is the position of a planet in tight conjunction with the Sun within 16 minutes of arc. This planetary position is said to be one of great strength, as the planet is fortified by the Sun’s rays.

William Lilly wrote about a cazimi planet that it would be “wonderous strong” (CA, p300).

Below is a table, listing all conjunction between the Sun and other planets, except Moon for the years 2020 and 2021

Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 11.Jan.2020 19 CP 49 19 CP 49
Transiting Sun Conjunct Saturn 14.Jan.2020 22 CP 53 22 CP 53
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 26.Feb.2020   6 PI 55   6 PI 55
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury   5.May.2020 14 TA 52 14 TA 52
Transiting Sun Conjunct Venus   4.Jun.2020 13 GE 35 13 GE 35
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury   1.Jul.2020   9 CN 44   9 CN 44
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 18.Aug.2020 25 LE 09 25 LE 09
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 26.Oct.2020   2 SC 47   2 SC 47
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 20.Dec.2020 28 SG 42 28 SG 42
Transiting Sun Conjunct Saturn 24.Jan.2021   4 AQ 20   4 AQ 20
Transiting Sun Conjunct Jupiter 29.Jan.2021   9 AQ 21   9 AQ 21
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury   9.Feb.2021 20 AQ 01 20 AQ 01
Transiting Sun Conjunct Venus 26.Mar.2021   5 AR 50   5 AR 50
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 19.Apr.2021 29 AR 14 29 AR 14
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 11.Jun.2021 20 GE 21 20 GE 21
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury   2.Aug.2021   9 LE 32   9 LE 32
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mars   8.Oct.2021 15 LI 05 15 LI 05
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 10.Oct.2021 16 LI 35 16 LI 35
Transiting Sun Conjunct Mercury 29.Nov.2021   7 SG 10   7 SG 10

 

 

 

Sun conjunct Mercury, 11th November 2019, an Astronomical Conjunction

On the 11th of November 2019, a transit of Mercury across the Sun will take place between 12:30 and 18:00UT. At this time, Mercury will be visible against the solar disc by obscuring a tiny part of it. After the 2019 event no further astronomical transit of Mercury will take place until December 2032.

Although this is true for the astronomical event, astrologically speaking, the symbolic conjunctions between Mercury and the Sun are by no means rare events.  Nevertheless it might be of interest to take the opportunity and have a look at this particular conjunction.

The exact astrological conjunction will take place on the 11th of November 2019 at 15:22. The chart below, cast for London, shows the event.

 

Sun conjunct Mercury.png

The conjunction is placed in 18*55 Scorpio; Sun and Mercury are in a separating sextile to Saturn. With the greater malefic involved, it may be expected that this event will be of some significance.

Let us now have a closer look at Mercury. What immediately springs to mind is the fact that he is retrograde. To understand the significance of this, we may have a look at what traditional astrologers have to say about this.

Abu Ma’shar informs us in his Abbreviation of the Introduction to Astrology in the chapter on The Impotence of the Stars

“…  but the worst [is] the retrogradation of Venus and Mercury, particularly if they are hidden by the Sun; or [planets are] found [under the rays of the Sun or] in dark degrees.” (Dykes, Introductions to Traditional Astrology, p220).

This immediately cuts to the heart of the matter of our investigation about Mercury conjunct Sun. When applying to the conjunct with the Sun, Mercury will not only be retrograde, he will as well be under the sunbeams and later on combust. That is exactly the worst-case scenario, highlighted by Abu Ma’shar in the quote above.

To understand what this means, we have to look at the definitions of these two terms.

  • Firstly, a Planet is said to be combust when it is between 17.5 minutes and 8.5 degrees of the Sun.
  • Secondly, under the Sunbeams is a harmful area, extending from the end of combustion until a Planet is 17.5 degrees apart from the Sun.

William Lilly informs us in his Christian Astrology, that Mercury

“is cold and dry, and therefore Melancholy; with the good he is good, with the evil Planets ill; … he is author of subtlety, tricks, deceives, perjury, &c.” (CA, p77)

And Mercury will be very much afflicted on the 11th of November. We have established so far that he will be retrograde, under the sunbeams and later on, closer to perfecting the conjunction, combust. Apart from that he will be aspecting Saturn, the greater malefic.

If we put all this information together, we come to the following conclusion.

Due to his natural and also his debilitated state during the conjunction to the Sun, Mercury will not affect us in a positive, measured manner but he will rather test some of us to a high degree. There can even be some level of fanaticism expected. It is also very likely  that things will go wrong on an epic scale. Particularly electronic devices may unexpectedly malfunction, or the odd communication breakdown may occur. It is also not advisable to sign any kind of contract or agree to any binding arrangements during this transit.

Sun and Mercury are also conjunct fixed star Zubenelshamali. This is the determinant star of lunar mansion 14, al Zubana: Robson knows that this:

“hinders journeys and marriage, harvest and merchandise, favorable for redemption of captives.” [Robson, Fixed Stars and Constellations, p.72.]

It is likely that people who have Scorpio rising in their nativity or have their natal Sun or Mercury at or around 18* Scorpio will experience some of the effects of this conjunction.

The only time when the negative influence of the Sun will be turned into a more positive one is the time Mercury spends in the heart of the Sun, otherwise known as cazimi. This beneficial span of time, which is only very short, will be on 11th of November between 12:28UT and 18:16UT.

 

Sun conjunct Saturn in Scorpio

On 25 October 2012, the Sun will perfect a conjunction with Saturn in Scorpio. This is a rare event that will only be repeated on 6 November 2013 and 18 November 2014. Thereafter, Saturn will move on into Sagittarius and it will take him until November 2041 to return to Scorpio again.

Generally speaking, Scorpio is a cold, watery, nocturnal, feminine fixed sign and is ruled by Mars, called the Lesser Malefic. Key words for Scorpio are: sex and sensuality, death and rebirth, forbidden secrets and hidden matters. People with Scorpio rising or the Sun in Scorpio are often thought to be generally wary, calculating and intensely secretive.

If we have a general look at Saturn, who is also called the Greater Malefic, we find him to be a cold, dry diurnal planet. He mainly represents sobriety, setbacks and restrictions, and when in Scorpio, he specifically indicates the possible appearance of serious problems, as well as an increase in phases of melancholy. During Saturn in Scorpio, many people are drawn towards an exploration of the paranormal or the occult sciences.

With the Sun in Scorpio, we are exposed to similar themes, like an increase in melancholy but may also experience spells of fanaticism, jealousy, a heightened level of determination, and become intensely passionate. We also may be more secretive, manipulative, cunning or obsessive.

When the Sun is conjunct Saturn in Scorpio, many of these themes may become an issue and particularly so for people who have Sun or Saturn natally placed in Scorpio, have Scorpio rising or many even have a Sun – Saturn conjunction in Scorpio in their birth chart.

In sum total, the conjunction between the Sun and Saturn in Scorpio seems to test how we experience identity as individuals. An increased amount of negative or complicated outside influences are seemingly trying to affect how we respond to other people and the world in general. As a response, many of us will become more sober, withdrawn, jealous, more obsessive and so forth.

Between 16 October and 4 November Saturn is very close to the Sun; traditional astrologers say that during this time Saturn is combust. (The actual definition is that a Planet is said to be combust when it is between 17.5 minutes and 8.5 degrees of the Sun.) During this time we all will be exposed to the influences of this conjunction and, as the ancient masters told us, the closeness of the Sun will increase the detrimental effect of Saturn.

But there is a short period of time when Saturn will be very close to the Sun. Traditional astrologers say that Saturn will be in the heart of the Sun, often also called cazimi. (Any Planet within 17.5 minutes of the Sun’s position is said to be cazimi). On the contrary to being combust, this is very beneficial.

  • Saturn will be cazimi on 25 October, between 00:46UT and 16:18UT.

During this period of time, the Sun will enhance Saturn’s beneficial side. Everybody who is going through an identity crisis or suffers from a lack of self-esteem, caused by the problematic configuration of the Sun and Saturn in Scorpio, will greatly benefit from this short spell of cazimi Saturn. Meditating on these Saturnine themes and allowing ourselves to develop a strong identity, combined with bold decision making in the categories of the Scorpionic themes, like sex and realtionship or death and rebirth will make it possible to embrace the lessons Saturn in Scorpio has in store for us.

I would be delighted if you, gentle reader, would share your experiences of the Sun – Saturn conjunction in Scorpio in form of a comment.

Traditional Aspectarian Page Added

A Traditional aspectarian page with sub-pages providing easy access to monthly tables has been added to this web log. The aspectarian may be accessed through the page link on the side-bar or through the links here:

General information about the contents of the Traditional aspectarian:

https://starsandstones.wordpress.com/traditional-aspectarian/

Aspectarian for January:

https://starsandstones.wordpress.com/traditional-aspectarian/aspectarian-january-2010/

Mirra Alfassa, The Mother

One of the most remarkable women of the 20th century is Mirra Alfassa, also known as ‘The Mother’. She was the first Westerner to become an Indian guru and was worshipped as an incarnation of the Divine Mother.

Mirra was born on February 21st 1878 as the second child of an Egyptian mother and a Turkish father. She was a gifted child and soon became an accomplished painter and musician. She claims that at the age of five she realised that she did not belong to this world and very often she would fall into trance or experience a state of bliss. From the age of twelve she was practicing occultism, had out of the body experiences and gained mystical insights into the existence of God. In her twenties she studied occultism with Max Theon and began working with different spiritual groups. In 1914 she met Sri Aurobindo, who she recognised as her mentor. She had to leave India after the outbreak of the First World War, but she returned to Pondycherry in April 1920, never to leave again. Sri Aurobindo recognised in her an embodiment of the dynamic expressive aspect of evolutionary, creative force, which is recognised in India as the ‘Supreme Mother’.

Although Mirra Alfassa’s time of birth is recorded to be 10:15 am, I have slightly rectified her chart. The following chart and delineation is based on this rectified time of 10:12 am.    

 

 

 Mirra Alfassa’s chart shows a Gemini Ascendant with Mercury in Aquarius, in the 1oth House. This placement describes a born communicator with leadership capabilities and a progressive outlook on life. The mind is very quick and there is much room for intuitive responses as well. And indeed she organized the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and, in 1952, 2 years after Aurobindo’s death, she created the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. Later on, in 1968, she founded Auroville which was meant to be ” an universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities”.

Her Venus is placed in Pisces in the 11th house, the house of ambition, but as well as hopes and wishes and is cazimi. I would  suggest that Venus is the Lady of the Geniture in her nativity, as the whole life of the Mother seemed to revolve around this fundamental principle. This famous quote of hers may be useful for the better understanding of her burning, undivided love:

I belong to no nation, no civilization, no society, no race, but to the Divine. I obey no master, no rules, no law, no social convention, but the Divine. To Him I have surrendered all, will, life and self; for Him I am ready to give all my blood, drop by drop, if such is His will, with complete joy, and nothing in his service can be sacrifice, for all is perfect delight. 

 The outlet for this Venusian energy can be found in the placement of Jupiter in the 9th House, which is conjunct her Part of Fortune. It shows her deep interest in philosophy and religion, indicates her yearning for wisdom and enlightenment and explains, why she had to travel to find the location of her destiny. Saturn in Pisces emphasises the sacrificial theme in her life, which is indicated in the quote above. Mirra’s Libra Moon shows her gentle nature and her desire for harmony and combines beautifully with her communication skills.

A look at her primary directions, which were used to rectify her nativity, shows that in 1914, when she met Sri Aurobindo for the first time, her Midheaven was  sextile Sun, of which William Lilly says that it “promises honours, bestowed upon by some eminent person, whereby he shall lay the foundation of arising to great preferment” (Christian Astrology, part III). In 1920, when she decided to stay with Aurobindo in India, her Midheaven was sextile Moon, of which Lilly says: “It gives increase of fortune, estimation and honour from the people more than usual; it argues some journey beyond Sea, and public commands, and usually affords the Native such esteem and reputation, as he by birth or place is capable of“. (CA III)

The Mother and Sri Aurobindo worked all their lives for the manifestation of a mode of consciousness beyond mind, which Sri Aurobindo named “Supermind” or “The Supramental”. The full expression of this consciousness on earth would result not only in a new species, as far beyond Man as humanity is beyond the animals, but also in a modification of the whole terrestrial creation.

In 1960 the Mother’s dream was to create Auroville, or the City of Dawn; it was her dream to create a place where humanity could seek the Divine without having to be worried about everyday needs like food and shelter, a place where people, coming from all over the world, could live in peace. A look at her primary directions for that year shows that the Moon was sextile Saturn, of which Lilly says: “The native will be prone to building and re-edifying“. (CA III) In 1968, when her directed Moon was conjunct Jupiter, she inaugurated the new city and today about 2000 people are living in Auroville.

In 1971, on the 93rd birthday of the Mother, the foundation stone for Matrimandir, or sanskr. The Temple of the Mother, was laid. This is the ‘soul’ of Auroville, situated on a large open space, called Peace. This laying of the foundation stone coincided with her primary direction of the Ascendant conjunct Mercury, a perfect indicator. 

 

The Matrimandir is in the form of a huge sphere surrounded by twelve pedestals. The central dome is covered by golden discs and reflects sunlight, which gives the structure its characteristic radiance. Inside this central dome is a meditation hall known as the inner chamber – this contains the largest optically-perfect glass globe in the world. The Matrimandir, and its surrounding gardens in the central Peace Area, is fully open to the public by appointment.

The four main pillars that support the structure of Matrimandir, and carry the Inner Chamber, have been set at the four main directions of the compass. Sri Aurobindo said:

Four great Aspects of the Mother, four of her leading Powers and Personalities have stood in front in her guidance of this Universe and in her dealings with the terrestrial play.

 Maheswari (south pillar): One is her personality of calm wideness and comprehending wisdom and tranquil benignity and inexhaustible compassion and sovereign and surpassing majesty and all-ruling greatness.

Mahakali (north pillar): Another embodies her power of splendid strength and irresistible passion, her warrior mood, her overwhelming will, her impetuous swiftness and world-shaking force.

Mahalakshmi (east pillar): A third is vivid and sweet and wonderful with her deep secret of beauty and harmony and fine rhythm, her intricate and subtle opulence, her compelling attraction and captivating grace.

Mahasaraswati (west pillar): The fourth is equipped with her close and profound capacity of intimate knowledge and careful flawless work and quiet and exact perfection in all things…

All these qualities, as recognised by Sri Aurobindo, can be seen in the nativity of Mirra Alfassa. 

  

The Mother left the physical plane on November 17th, 1973, at the age of 95.

Satprem, a disciple of the Mother recorded the “Mother’s Agenda”, a 6000 page logbook of her exploration  in the cellular consciousness of the human body and her discovery of the cellular mind. More information and an online version of “Mother’s Agenda may be found here: http://www.auroville.org/vision/maagenda.htm