The Sun enters Gemini I The Apple of Eden (as Austin Coppock named it) on 20 May 2024 at 9:00 am EDT, and remains there until 30 May 2024 at 6:56 pm EDT — just about ten days and ten hours.
The Golden Dawn associated this part of the sky with the Eight of Swords, which they named Lord of Shortened Force — and T. Susan Chang called it Fate versus Free Will, noting how these potentials fit together. It's the first decan of the zodiac to be administered by Jupiter, and indeed the Greater Benefic will join the Sun here on 26 May, along with Venus the Lesser Benefit on 23 May. It's a garden party in God's own apple orchard — the nicest planets in the solar system are invited!
The Greeks of late antiquity gave honor to Tethys, the goddess of the deep ocean, during these ten days at the end of May. Wife of Okeanos honored at Pisces I, she's respected as half-woman, half-fish, rather like a mermaid — but with double tails and more teeth than is really wise. It's hard to explain to many modern audiences just how important ocean-gods were to the ancient world; yet the Mediterranean Sea was both highway and horror. Undersea earthquakes sent waves ashore that wrecked ports and shattered ships. A tsunami in AD 365 devastated ancient Alexandria and closed ports all along the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas for months). Yet Rome was fed in part by a constant stream of grain-ships from Spain, France, North Africa, the Black Sea. The famous Roman Road network was for messages and troops — letters and people that could walk themselves. The sea was for moving food and drink: sacks of grain and amphoras of wine and oil. A major storm or an earthquake meant that ships would sink, and animals and people alike would starve.
We might then be inclined, to think of Tethys not simply as a goddess of the ocean, but as a deity of all natural forces that disrupt human economic activity — the tornado that takes down nine gas stations and disables an oil refinery; the hurricane that floods a major American city; the earthquake that shatters a bridge or a tunnel and cuts off communities from one another for years. She's propitiated and invited to calm down, to leave early and take her toys and go home. We wouldn't want to trouble her at all or give her any grief.
And yet — as Austin Coppock noted, there's something mightily gnostic about this decan, and Tethys is only part of the puzzle. Is her nature all that destructive? Or are we simply heedless of the ways in which our own actions impede Nature's own routines and orderly behaviors? If we build in a flood plain, aren't we going to get flooded out? If we build in a place where hurricanes routinely pass, shouldn't we build to take that into account? Is it a good idea to leave power-lines and light-posts above-ground in common tornado zones? There was a time when mortals had no knowledge of good or evil, according to the story of Eden — we simply did the Gardener's bidding, and let their wisdom guide our actions in planting and harvesting. Then we decided go off and do things our own way, ignoring ancient patterns and relationships — and that has had unexpected consequences. Maybe Tethys is a reminder that some patterns and relationships have purpose, and we ignore them at our peril.
This makes sense when we consider Jupiter's administrative leadership role here. The pagan high priest and Neoplatonic philosopher Iamblichus, in his book De Mysteriis, contrasts the roles of "archons" or rulers, with "archons presently in charge" — that is, elites who happen to currently have roles of authority. It's easy to forget, with time and muddled distance, how much of local Roman governance in provincial cities like Alexandria or Athens or Antioch was not imperial-style command-from-above, but local elites passing offices of high responsibility and leadership back and forth between themselves, and answerable to a council of representative elected by the citizens of its districts — a limited form of representative government compared with our own, to be sure (one in which enslaved persons and women were disenfranchised, and civil rights a disturbing joke) — but a democracy nonetheless. We can decide at any time to modify our behaviors to be more in tune with Nature's rhythms and flows... but it's dependent on finding, and electing, appropriate archons presently in charge. Self-government in tune with Nature is possible, but it begins with us in our localities, not in a top-down way.
The dodeks of Gemini I are reifications of Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo — the flip-flopping debate of the farmer surveying his field wondering whether to plant a crop for a dry or a wet summer, followed by the soaking moisture of Cancer and the roaring heat of Leo, followed by the harvest of Virgo. Whatever is planted — moist seedling from the nursery greenhouse or dry seed pressed into wet soil, moisture-loving or moisture-hating, heat-hating or sun-worshipping, there will be a harvest — it remains to be seen if it will be meager or abundant. There's only one Gardener who knows for sure.
Planetary Placements
This week is the Conjunction of the Benefics, following hot on the heels of last Saturday's Venus-Uranus Conjunction (7:21 am EDT, 18 May 2024)and Jupiter-Sun Conjunction (2:36 pm EDT, 18 May 2024). Venus and Jupiter meet, usually either at about 10 1/4 months or at 14 1/2 months — their meeting occurring about every 442 days is pretty common, occurring in about 25% of all cycles. There's a 56-day period between the conjunction and the first sextile, and I'm launching a small, short-term project through my Patreon for working that period magically and mystically — if you've been thinking about joining up, now's the time.
The chart of 9:00 am on 20 May 2024 has the Sun above the horizon in the twelfth house, making this a Day Chart with numerous public questions set before a wide audience. This puts our vision on the future, but also risks putting us in a state of despair when we consider the omens we're watching. Outlooks may improve after Venus enters Gemini on May 24, and Jupiter joins her on May 28. (Mercury will enter Gemini on June 3rd, after conducting Uranus on May 31 — but these are both during the Sun's time in Gemini II).
The Eleventh House is where most of the action lies, in the place representing our friends and acquaintances, our professional networks and wider social web, as well as state and national legislatures. Here, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, and Jupiter are each under Venus's direction and leadership — like a set of mostly masculine roommates suddenly washing dishes and vacuuming for the pretty woman who moved into the spare room, it's got some of the spiciness of a certain variety of romance novels that are hugely popular on BookTok and Instagram right now. But it's also really clear who's in charge here, at least for the moment. This house is Venus's house, and all the men in it are expected to pull their own weight; the well-trained bulls in the china shop here are moving with unusual grace and delicacy — because no one wants to be turned into an ox, much less waygu beef. Or hamburger. The next few days may see women step to the front in legislative bodies, and some new compromises taking shape for the future. Uranus the inventor and Jupiter the lawgiver and Mercury the communicator are all answering to Venus as the lover of beauty and luxury and leisure — and they will give it to her, even if only temporarily.
The relationship among the four is a little top-heavy. Mercury is in the first decan of Taurus, the Plough, where they are primarily focused on goals that occur six months from now; and communicating plans for a longer-term future. However, Venus is currently enclosed between her money-minded Jupiter friend ("I'm looking for a guy in finance — trust fund — 6' 5' — blue eyes" is a popular music clip on TikTok at the moment) and a technically-minded computer-savvy (and possibly bomb-throwing) revolutionary Uranus — in Taurus III The Prayer Beads, suggesting a religious dimension to the boundaries and limitations of her current romantic and aesthetic decisions.
It's not going to be all fun and games. Mars holds the midheaven and the tenth house, in his own domicile of Aries. It's a bad time to have a boss, as a result... or a supervisor. Self-employed people will find it hard not to harsh on themselves, either, since they have the most demanding bosses of all. There will be a fresh drive to do something, to finish a project or to complete some relatively ambiguous or arbitrary goal — but it's also likely to take the form of "you do this, while I do something else or supervise from over here." It's been observed that generals usually spend a lot of time in the command tent giving orders, while sergeants and grunts risk their lives in the field. Expect a lot of "leadership from behind" or "seat of the pants supervision" this week.
Saturn and Neptune are both in Pisces in the ninth house, with Saturn stomping on The Net of Pisces II and demonstrating how holey and unserviceable it is — the current restrictions on free speech on the Palestinian-Israel conflict on college campuses, the apparent efforts to clamp down on public discussion on platforms like TikTok, the discussion of the problem of enshittification by Corey Doctorow and others, and other ways in which the holes, rents, and tears in the Internet are serving to stifle free speech and limit dialogue on important issues. At the same time, Neptune remains in Pisces III The Cup of Blood — which has long been associated with the idea of a general enthusiasm for ideas and opinions which are somehow divorced from reality. Whatever information we think we are getting about the state of the world, a goodly part of it is wrong — but the part about thinking we're not getting the right information, or that there's some significant censorship of one part of reality? That part is right. Work on getting more information from more sources, and double check your biases.
Pluto is in Aquarius I Mark of Exile, retrograding back toward his re-entry to Capricorn for most of September through November. It's worth remembering that Pluto in Aquarius has generally been favorable to workers and their rights and needs; while the Multiplier of Commerce has given more advantage to business owners and managers during his time in Capricorn. Expect to see evidence of corporate victories over workers' rights and unions over the summer, and concessions in contract negotiations over assigned responsibilities. These will start heating up as Pluto picks up speed this week.
Anchoring the bottom of the chart is The Moon, lately passed the South Node in Libra and processing toward her detriment in Scorpio. She's in the third decan of Libra The Gyroscope, suggesting some challenging emotional labors being done in order to preserve household and homestead with some sort of normalcy in the face of career stress, and social obligations and legal frameworks chipping away at family life. Just remember that even though things may feel on the brink of collapse this week around the old homestead, that the Moon will be passing through the 'financial' Mansions: starting from the Sixteenth, she'll end in the Twenty-Eighth, suggesting the completion of a cycle and the resolution of some of the current difficulties. Start by focusing on household financials, move from that to addressing health management and illness prevention, nurture the children living under your roof — and end with gratitude for any completed efforts.
Horoscopes by Rising Sign
Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.
Cancer: House and home may acquire an outsized importance this week as economic decisions take on lasting importance and value. Your cup may overflow with new possibilities but it may also be a lot to take in right now. No sooner is your cup emptied than it is refilled with new richness. You may not be quite sure WHAT has changed, but you have clarity that change has come. Your friends and extended networks may want to do great things for you, but some of those efforts may have to be reined in. A boss makes unexpected difficulties for themselves…. but then requires you to sort them out. Duties expand to fit the work you put in — concede some boundaries but hold others firm.
Leo: Financial matters may be the biggest concern on your plate this week, but if you focus your attention on how to labor honestly and responsibly, you're likely to be able to produce a new business idea in a whirlwind of new energy. Work on connecting your work-colleagues and professional associates in the same industry, not just to yourself but to each other: be the linchpin that connects disparate friends with similar interests together. A journey you've been planning for this week might get canceled, but try to find a road trip anyway — a small adventure would do you good. Expect to throw a bucket of cold water over someone else's unrestrained enthusiasm — or use your expertise and research skills to help dry out their wet blanket.
Virgo: You may have to break your neighborhood's written or unwritten rules this week, in pursuit of your own goals — and this may require spending money to acquire new things for house and home. The work outlook for you is sunny, because you know both information and plans that are not easily replaced; but you will be expected to teach others in upcoming days, as well as to expand the reach of your own wisdom (despite being outstanding in your field). Look for ways to harmonize and integrate what you already know how to do. Your partner may be under significant stress from professional matters and a financial issue that won't go away Do your best to provide real-world advice, but don't get lost in the weeds of opinion: "I don't know," is a good answer when the other options are lucid and logical but wrong.
Libra: Difficult matters may come to a head at home or among your family as questions of how to use resources to create an admirable and functional living environment come to a head. There's a strong desire to pursue luxury at any cost, but you'll be better served with a temporary "good enough for now" plan, if you can get buy-in from your partner or housemates. Expect a certain amount of sparks to fly; the question of who wears the crown, and who must bow, will be high on the list; who pays is an equally important question, though, and one which should not be ignored. Drink more water than usual this week, and avoid foods that bring distress. Find a way to deliver really outstanding service to someone for your own pleasure.
Scorpio: Your intuition may lead you into a number of pleasurable experiences this week, but attending to a partner's or peer's needs may take an unusual level of priority. If you are in business for yourself, trouble may drop into your lap from inappropriate management of your resources. Keep things spinning by asking a friend to wait longer, or by shining a light on your old processes with new know-how. However, take more care than usual with any routine work operations that require heat or cutting, and keep your mind focus on what you are doing. Treat time and rest as resources just as valuable as money this week, and you may find that genuine wealth can be discovered more easily.
Sagittarius: There is freedom in both work and play this week, but you may find that time and energy spent with friends feels quite homey but also stirs up trouble. What are you linked to and how do those connections bind you? More than that, how do they harness you to achievable goals. Current financial straits are brought about as much by you as by partners, but questions of your relative sovereignty compared with others must still be addressed. Household operates daily on untested assumptions and challenging realities, but your hobbies and pleasures are acknowledged… perhaps in overly-open public ways that upset you: don't lose your cool and good things may happen anyway.
Capricorn: The needs and desires of others take center stage in the next few days, but you're likely to earn your keep quite successfully by sticking to your established processes. Just remember that rest and relaxation are part of what "vacations" are for, even if you do intend to be of service to others. FAmily members operate under some delusions, but it's the home first that risk treating you too sharply. Speech, beauty, music and explosive possibilities, are among the pleasures you'll enjoy with friends this wee, but you'll still have to put your knowledge to work in unexpected and isolating ways. Don't vanish for too long without checking in with your peeps.
Aquarius: Over the course of the summer your duties and responsibilities are likely to change, or you may be hit with new issues that require you to serve with less dignity than usual. Conditions are not likely to ease much before November, with you having to give up more and more for less and less return. Reserve financial resources against these challenges and expect to ward off family expectations against social circumstances and fun-times-for-all. It's wise to locate ways for your home and yard to be a delight for visitors, guests, and your own family or housemates. Focus on making this a refuge or a pleasant outdoor venue — and the party will come to you, with all the trimmings.
Pisces: Your expertise and knowledge is valued and honored to the degree you give it away for cheap or free, but expect several people to demand your labor this week in ways that are breathlessly clueless to your real value. That may mean you take a professional hit in the pocketbook or wallet in the next ten days — it's that, or a costly burn to your reputation; which one is worse is going to depend on a mix of industry and current career track. Learning to treat it as part of the journey, and to manage expectations, will be an important source of reflection and value this week. If you have a choice between taking a hit on finances or getting partially paid in merchandise or resources, take the resources: better something than a total wash.
Aries: You may have to be the bad bitch that everyone else loathes this week — but it's just as possible that you're in the unfortunate position of having to apply harsh rules to yourself, rather than letting your boss or supervisor let you get away with something, like they would do. Part of it is that the total financial package is good; partly it's that you know friends and allies are watching, and you need to make sure that the 'right example', whether good or bad, is set; and you know that good precedent is better than a bad first exception. As a self-employed person, you may have to stick to your online routines better, but know that there's a lot of bad advice floating around out there right now — if the first answer seems too good to be true, or even if it just accords with your preferred reality, give matters a second look.
Taurus: You will take center stage these next few days in the role as an orchestral conductor of your friends and allies, associates and assorted hangers-on, as Venus commands and leads the lawyerly types, the big-game-talkers, and the guys with the coolest gear. This will require you wear your most sacred masks, your holiest clothing (not necessarily holey), and dress to impress (not that you don't anyway) — but your goal should be to take the lead and occupy center stage when you must, and fade to background when you needn't. There will be some fireworks and other drama behind the scenes; and people will be speaking misinformation that you'll be in a position to correct. More than at any time this year, this is a chance to shine and show off; but remember that even in this you have freedom to relax and do your own thing, too.
Gemini: Shine some light on your long range plans, and be alert to the ways that your current circle of friends might be holding you back from some big dreams — or be cheering you on toward your most significant goals. You may have to limit contact with a friend or two who are causing trouble in your life or trying to intimidate you into ding things their way. You're going to have to intuit where the boundary is, but rest assured it doesn't require you to give up stuff you already own; and as for what they press you to take on, remember Thoreau's advice to distrust any enterprise which requires new clothes. Have fun, but recognize that you don't need elaborate new gear to have a good time; sometimes it's best to learn a little about the thing before committing to it entirely.
Colophon
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If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.
I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran's Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.
I use Christopher Warnock's The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock's 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.
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