O Sole Mio! An Aries Full Moon Comes This Way

Metaphorcast 10-18-24, 2021

“O Sole Mio”,  the beloved Neapolitan song written by Giovanni Capurro, translates as “My Sunshine.”  The first verse salutes a sunny day with the freshest air that follows a storm.  But the chorus, the dramatic turn, the part that really gets us, speaks of a different sun.  

“But another sun, 

even more beauteous, oh my sweetheart,

my own sun, shines from your face!

This sun, my own sun,

shines from your face!

It shines from your face!

A Full Moon finds us this week in the sign of Aries, the primordial spark of life, the mystery that motivates, in other words, that other sun.  When it shines it is ‘even more beauteous’ and larger than life.  

It should come as no surprise that Luciano Pavarotti, who won a grammy for this song in 1980, was born under a Full Aries Moon.  His lunar substance of soul is made up of this other sun, one’s own sun.

O sole mio!  Such a beautiful and private light.  It rises like an epiphany when it sees its own brightness reflected back from others, reflected back from the otherness of the world.  

As most operas show, it is love that moves the atmosphere; obscuring or revealing these brilliant and more beauteous rays.  Grab your earphones, or hear it with your heart! O Sole Mio! Your own sun and its spark!  

From where will it shine, this spark so divine?

Mars will oppose this Moon, expect emotional crescendos!  Pluto squaring from the depths adds alluring innuendos!  The drama of this full moon  reminds us to be in touch with what lies beneath the surface; a powerful swirl of lava that animates the soul and determines what really matters.

Such a reminder will come in handy as we transition into beneath-the-surface Scorpio season on Saturday!

As always,Happy astro pondering!

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Action Is The New Atom. New Moon in Aries

Have you ever wondered what it is that exists at the utmost root of things?  It was not long ago that science responded to this question with the atom, whose name means indivisible one.  But as we know now, atoms can be split and there is a whole weird quantum world beyond it.  So what is it then, that is most fundamental to our existence?

In his book, The Reflexive Universe, inventor and cosmologist Arthur M. Young sees this answer to be clear: it is action, not matter that is most basic to the universe we live in.  He also sees this universe to be purposeful in it’s evolution.

“Science builds its edifice on mass, length and time.  The suspicion of purpose only occurs in action, which combines all three.  Is it possible that there is something present in the whole that is not in the parts?”

Who, if anyone, does not long for a sense of wholeness?  Wholeness beckons us from grocery aisles with green marketing logos and from the bulletin boards on the way out that features happy yoga people in a moment of bliss.  But have you ever considered that wholeness is what lies in your decision to drive to the store in the first place?

As Young points out; you can’t make a decision one and a half times.  Actions come in wholes.

It was Max Planck who first came up with the notion that action comes in wholes, or quanta.  He discovered the constant, an elementary quantum of action, which lead Einstein to discovering that light exists in discrete quantity of energy, or photons.

Unlike the atom, this quantum of action can’t be split apart.  It’s a notion of true undivided wholeness, you might even say, the true atom.

“There’s a new one?”

Young explains that light itself is pure action because “light is not seen; it is seeing.”  A photon can not be seen twice.  It’s detection is it’s annihilation.  

“Light is pure action, unattached to any object, like the smile without the cat.”

-Arthur M. Young, The Reflexive Universe  

Emerson said “A right action seems to fill the eye and be related to all of nature.” 

The Aries New Moon (Sunday, April 11th) is an invitation to ponder a “new atom”.  A new answer to what exists at the utmost root of all existence.  A new point of view that sees wholeness as inherent in the nature of action, decision, and purposive activity.

This New Moon receives a square from powerful Pluto in lawful Capricorn, empowering us to, as Young advises, “ use law instead of being blocked by it”.  For Young, deterministic laws of nature are what is necessary for us to have means to achieve a goal.  Rather than a question of determinism versus free-will, he sees determinism as the agency of free-will.  How could you plan to start your car if you couldn’t count on the keys starting the ignition?

With goals and the means to carry them out, actions can vibrate stronger with purpose!

A New Moon, a new atom, a new you!  On the most fundamental level, you are free as a photon!  You are light and laughter!  Beyond even time itself, for as Young points out, “clocks stop at the speed of light.”

Happy actions, and happy astro pondering!

Astro art by Johnnie Day Durand

https://www.happyastropondering.com/

It’s Great to Anticipate! Mercury Enters Aries.

After practicing the art of negative capability, Mercury, the planet of perception moves forward in Aries on Saturday, April 3rd.  Looking becomes forward looking.  A type of looking that generates excitement.  A perception that is fond of future and its yet-to-be contents.  When Mercury moves into Aries it becomes clear how great it is to anticipate. 

Numerous psychological studies performed in 2007 (professors, Leaf Van Boven and Laurence Ashworth) reported people feeling more intense feelings when contemplating future events than when reflecting on things that already happened.  Prospective holidays far outranked the levels of excitement and happiness than the reflected-upon past holidays, even the most satisfying ones. 

Anticipation underlies optimism and hope.  It provides momentum, and works wonders even in its most simple practices.  

To see through the eyes of the Ram is to see the future in lit-up pieces.

Plato saw vision as a a smooth and gentle outward-flowing fire that was emitted from the eye to fuse with ambient light and create a “body of vision.” Empedocles also believed this but added that the fire of the eye was lit by Venus herself.

While science agrees little with this theory of vision, psychologically there is something here. Venus, with her delights, “light” our visions of future events. There may in fact exist an outward-flow of fire when it comes to an important type of vision; the vision of looking forward, the fire of anticipation.

As Twin Peak’s special agent Dale Cooper muses, “It could be a new shirt at the men’s store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee.”

Aries’ forward-fire is more alive when contemplating the future because it is only in the future that we can experience hope.  Jean Jacques-Rousseau said “anticipation and hope are natural born twins.”  The strength of the Ram is the strength of the Will, again connecting fire to future, as in “I will..”

Fire mixed with future is what nurtures the Japanese concept of “Ikigai (pronounced icky guy), which is seen to be a key to longevity. Ikigai translates most literally into “a reason to get out of bed every morning.”  It is a dynamic sense of well-being, one that hinges on a relationship to the immediate (and also faraway) future. 

The Sun and Venus have been relearning many active principles, and Mercury is the latest to join the springtime party.  The trickster looks forward to looking forward, and experiencing what Camus called “the sweet pain of anticipation to tell us we are really alive.”

How will you ignite some anticipation in your life?

Mercury will anticipate in Aries until April 19th when it will embrace itself in Taurus.  

Happy anticipating and happy astro pondering!

Astro Art by Johnnie Day Durand.

https://www.happyastropondering.com/

The (Active) Art of Loving. Venus enters Aries

In the previous post, the very verdant verity of an inner spring was examined via Erich Fromm’s two existential modes of “having” and “being”.  It seems natural to stick with Fromm for this next transit on Sunday March 21st, as Venus, the Love Goddess goes into action-oriented Aries.

Fromm begins his very popular book, The Art of Loving (1956), with this question:

“Is love an art? Then it requires knowledge and effort. Or is love a pleasant sensation, which to experience is a matter of chance, something one “falls into” if one is lucky?”

As the title suggests, he believes it is an art.  A “faculty” rather than a “feeling”.  A verb rather than a noun.  He sees love as an “activity” rather than a “passivity”, centering primarily on giving rather than receiving.  

For Fromm, we have it all wrong when we try to make ourselves more lovable to attract love.  Thinking this way turns ourselves into self-made commodities, looking for the commodity in others that fit the bill.  The problem becomes a passive problem of being loved, rather than an active affirmation of our capacity to love.  

Fromm himself was an Aries, born right around the time of the vernal equinox.  Spring is a clear display of life, and for Fromm, so is the art of loving.  The name of his book is The Art of Loving, not The Art of Love.  Love, like life, is not a noun, but a verb.

And what does the dedicated artist of love give to others, and to the world?

Fromm says, “he gives his life”.  This, however, is not a sacrifice. He further explains,

“he gives him of that which is alive in him; he gives him of his joy, of his interest, of his understanding, of his knowledge, of his humor, of his sadness—of all expressions and manifestations of that which is alive in him. In thus giving of his life, he enriches the other person, he enhances the other’s sense of aliveness by enhancing his own sense of aliveness. He does not give in order to receive; giving is in itself exquisite joy. But in giving he cannot help bringing something to life in the other person, and this which is brought to life reflects back to him.”

Maybe this is why springtime birds sing so much.  They are skilled and knowing artists practicing the liveliest art.  The art of loving.  

How can you turn love into a verb?  Venus will delight in Aries until April 14th, when it will cozy up in Taurus.

Happy Astro Pondering!

Astro Art by Johhnie Day Durand

https://www.happyastropondering.com/

Here comes the Sun: Knowing your life energy. Part 3- Fire

Your Sun sign keys you into understanding the fundamental energy that you run on.  There are four basic different categories of this energy: Earth, Water, Air and Fire.  Start with understanding your element and then move on to understand it’s specific qualities within your sign.

Today we are taking a look at the energy of Fire.

Fire energy is excitable and motivating.  There is dramatic charge with Fire.  Fire energy needs inspiration and action to get moving.  It is the most outward (yang), it needs to express.

Cardinal Fire: Aries.  Cardinal energy as we have learned is all about INITIATION.  With initiative fire we arrive at the archetype of the pioneer.  Boldly going where no one has gone before.  One who embraces new beginnings with courage and gusto.

Double Aries Marlon Brando was wearing jeans and white t-shirts way before everyone else. He embodied a style of rock n roll before rock n roll was even happening! This is the spirit of Aries.

Fixed Fire: Leo.  Leo is naturally associated with the Sun.  The Sun is Fixed Fire, a.k.a Fire MAINTAINED and burning bright.  Leo energy basks in the limelight, exudes a natural confidence and celebrates it’s own radiance with play and spontaneity.

Double Leo Halle Berry visibly exudes the Leonine confidence in the manner she carries herself and communicates. It’s no wonder that she often lands roles in which she is supposed to show this kind of energy, whether it’s as a Bond-girl or a sly and stealthy “Catwoman”.

Mutable Fire:  Sagittarius.  If inspirational and excitable Fire energy is constantly ADAPTING, REFINING and CHANGING itself we may be looking at a person with strong and impassioned beliefs and opinions, based on what they’ve learned along life’s path.  Sagittarius wants to learn, and identify itself with what it’s learned.  But in the Mutable spirit- always continue learning, changing and evolving- hence we get the archetype of the free-spirited traveller, the student, or one who seeks more and more knowledge/ life experience.

Double Sagittarius, Jon Stewart’s fire burns strong as he explores all sorts of different structures of belief and opinion in response to current events. In the true spirit of Fire, he makes sure to always add a sparkling sense of humor to these thoughtful expeditions.

The next post will wrap up this Sun Sign series as we will explore the light and socially-inclined element of Air.

Lauren Bacall’s sultry third house Virgo Sun

When you think of Lauren Bacall what is the first thing that comes to mind?  You might say Bogart, sure.  You might say extraordinary beauty of course.  But MIGHTN’T you say THAT VOICE?

Impossibly low and sultry, smooth as ice cream, when she says that famous line “You know how to whistle right?”, we KNOW it is sending Bogie’s stomach into knots because it is doing the exact same thing to ours.  And it’s all in that voice.

Bacall has her Virgo Sun (energy oriented towards exactness, humility and perfection) in the third house (the house of communication).  Not only that, but she also has her natal Mercury (communication needs/style) in Virgo as well and also in the third, further highlighting this anchoring in her voice.

Bacall’s chart

They say that something around 90% of communication in nonverbal.  Putting that powerful voice aside for a moment let’s take a look at her one of her infamous mannerisms: her chin held down when she spoke.  Such a gesture truly embodies humility, letting her essence shine through (Virgo Sun).  The best part is- this mannerism was born because she had such a crush on Bogart that early on (while filming “To Have and Have Not”) when they shared dialogue her head would shake.  The director finally coached her to hold her head down.

Bacall’s signature look with her head tilted down

But don’t be fooled, Bacall is not all humility.  This energy serves a 10th house Aries Moon.  Her emotional needs (Moon) are to be the best (Aries) in this big world of ours (10th house).  She embodies a much needed at the time new female archetype.  One that asserts, and is brave, and ready to jump into the danger (all Aries traits).

She was raised by a single mother to whom she credits a lot of this determination to (the mother is reflected in our Moon’s sign and placement).  “I grew up believing that women had the upper hand, got things done, and were listened to” she is quoted.  “It’s women I admire more for character, honesty, daring, courage.”  Aries Moon in the tenth.

It was hard to say goodbye to this humble ball of fire this year.  We were lucky to have her.

Below are a few more examples of third house Suns and their powerful voices.

Marley’s third house Sun shines bright in the very humanitarian sign of Aquarius

Brilliant astrologer, Noel Tyl has rectified Cleopatra’s chart putting her Cancer Sun in the third. She is rumored to have the most seductive voice in history.

Jim Carrey’s loaded third house includes his earthy and body oriented Capricorn Sun as well as his Mercury Jupiter conjunction (voluble speech) in strange Aquarius.

Mick Jagger’s third house Sun is aflame in Leo and conjunct Jupiter and Pluto (making it bigger and more powerful)