StarCycles by Georgia Stathis

There are certain lunar declination cycles contained within the longer 18.6 year lunar node cycle in which the moon moves to extreme distances (declination) above or below the celestial equator for three to four years. The Moon crosses the celestial equator, moving in a northerly and then southerly direction, once a month, but during the above mentioned short span, it exhibits a more extreme movement. These extreme periods, marked by unexpected change in such varied areas as politics, economics, government behavior as well as manufactured goods, technology and even changes in the collective consciousness, are turning points of movement and evolution. They come after long periods of stagnation and difficulty.

Industries, once stuck in old ideas and ancient technologies, move out of these lost periods armed with fresh ideas that evolve while the Moon 'disappears' into the outer regions of declination during these few years. During these cycles of extreme declination, lasting about three years, the pulse of the cosmos is out of step, and since the Moon reflects the 'pulse' of the public, the evolution of same is log jammed.

What extremes in the Moon's movement frame these kinds of activity? After all it isn't unusual for the Moon to move out of bounds, which is 23º 27'-28' North or South of the celestial equator, frequently. However, during these specific times, when the transiting lunar node reaches either 00° Aries, or, 00° Libra, the Moon moves far beyond the 'ordinary' out of bounds position to a more extreme sometimes going as far out as 29° north (+29º) or south (-29º) of the celestial equator, looking as though it is 'suspended' in time and space for that three or four years. Much like the extreme movement of pendulums, its monthly inertia makes it seem as though time stops.

In The Book of Five Ring, a 500-year old samurai fighting manual written by a Samurai warrior, Miyamoto Musashi, he writes about the 'void'. This book, used in the past for the Harvard MBA program, has five short chapters that include the four elements and a final chapter referred to as the Void. Simply put, Musashi states that the void is where all the magic happens. This idea, of going out into the unknown and returning to the 'earth's' surface with something new and different not found in contemporary consciousness, is huge.

This unique cycle arrives in 2006, but is showing its face in 2005. The recent exposures of extreme corruption in such corporations as Enron, World Com and now, the more recent, Tyco align beautifully with the recent revelation of who was "Deep Throat", now reveals as former FBI Agent W. Mark Felt, who was a major source of information leading to the arrest of the men who illegally broke into the Democratic headquarters known as Watergate on June 17, 1972. This, as we know, ultimately led to the removal of President Richard Nixon. The irony of this event is that in this particular extreme declination period of the Moon, which began in 1969, various covert activities were beginning within our government that eventually led to the Watergate break-in and the eventual resignation of President Nixon.

One of these was recently revealed in an anniversary panel talking about the Kent State shootings. It was found out that in the summer of 1968 a secret Senate committee was assigned to illegally investigating SDS activities at the Kent State University student chapter[i]. Two years later, four students were killed by the National Guard during a protest of the Vietnam war in early May of 1970. The stark reality of this event, where Americans were now killing their own children for exercising their amendment right of Free Speech was a major turn in the tide of political events during the following years.

Many of the past events regarding extreme moon declinations are well documented in an excellent and well researched article entitled, Stations of the Moon, written by Ken Gillman in which he states:

There is... a vital complication: the plane of the Moon's orbit also rotates [when referring to the varying measurements of the Moon crossing the plane of the celestial equator twice a month, forming the Moon's North and South Nodes.] The line of the nodes makes one revolution every 18.6 years. Thus at certain times, when the Moon's Node is around 00° Aries, the amplitude of the Moon's declination will be at its greatest, reaching nearly as high as 29° north of the celestial equator -- when the Moon's 5.14° tilt is added to the Sun's maximum declination of 23.45° -- to nearly as low as 29° south (-23.45° less 5.14°). The time when the Moon is swinging its farthest is called the major standstill, because the Moon reaches about the same maximum height in the sky for almost three years, peaking when the lunar node is near 00° Aries. Not only does it then reach its highest possible elevation each month, but two weeks later it is very low in the sky, and barely rises in high latitudes like Alaska, Scandinavia and the Shetland Islands. These movements would have been very conspicuous to early man.

To clarify, declination is measured North and South of the Celestial Equator while latitude refers to the positions of the planets north and south of the ecliptic, which is the orbiting plane that is defined by the Earth's revolution around the Sun. As the Sun travels throughout the year, it reaches maximum north declination when the Sun is in Cancer and reaches maximum south declination when the Sun is in Capricorn.

With that said, the upcoming cycle of the transiting north node at 00° Aries [at this writing the transiting North Node is at 20° Aries] and its fast approach to that degree between June 4 and June 19 2006, signals marked changes, particularly in business and commerce. Nothing ever occurs in a vacuum. Never. As soon as this 00° Aries point begins, the North node moves back to 29° Pisces beginning a very slow approaching square to transiting Pluto, which feels more impacting than cycles of the past. After all, Pluto doesn't reach late degrees of Sagittarius, but for every 247 years. In addition, in December 2006, transiting Pluto begins paralleling the Galactic Center at 27 to 28° of Sagittarius, the entire while that the Moon is flying to extreme out of bounds positions every month for a considerable amount of time. The 'wildness' of this cycle suggests lots of very fast changes.

One very clear issue coming up, I believe, is the challenge of the EU (European Union) by its members. On May 30, 2005 we heard about France challenging the EU and its position with it. In addition, the United Kingdom continues to be confronted to join the European Union, but starkly refuses. During the course of 2006 and 2007, transiting Saturn will oppose transiting Neptune, possibly threatening the supply or transport of oil. In fact, anytime we see hard aspects between Saturn and Neptune, oil is in the news.

This is an interesting perspective, since, at the same time, transiting Jupiter in Scorpio will be squaring transiting Neptune in Aquarius. Jupiter tends to overextend, or, over exaggerate. We have Jupiter, which can mean an overabundance and Saturn, which represents limitation. Credit spending may increase, or, at least interest rates will, since my experience shows inflation with Neptune in the news. We also have a square between Saturn and Jupiter throughout the year, which often limits business, or, at least slows things down.

The amazing thing about discomfort is that discomfort (related to Saturn) is often the motivating force for business and economic change. With the transiting moon moving to the extremes mentioned above, technology will inevitably change. If there is a shortage of oil, then fuel cell technology may finally catch fire as has the idea of the hybrid car over the course of the last few years. In fact, many American car makers are scheduled to come out with their own versions of the hybrid car in the years 2006 and 2007. Hybridization and increased evolution in the area of nano technology are all possible. Phones become televisions and televisions become computers and computers become lighter and more portable and central headquarters for all sorts of communications as wireless becomes the standard rather than the exception. Large court confrontations are triggered by individuals and changed.

It is very interesting to note that during Prohibition in the 1920's when alcohol was banned and, thereby, bootlegged, eventually becoming legalized, that Uranus was

traveling through the sign of Pisces where it is again. Challenges between state and federal governments go toe to toe for the legalization and sale of such things as the sale of medical marijuana. Therefore, anything can happen as that Moon travels far out to bring in new and different perspectives and viewpoints.

According to a survey of business leaders being published next month by the American Chamber of Commerce, leaders of the nation's major companies are unusually divided about the prospects for 2006. The midyear survey of 25,000 of the largest companies in the US attempts to gauge their assessment of the future business climate.

The majority of the respondents (72%) foresaw "turbulent" or "rapidly changing" conditions that could send shock waves through their industries. Only 14% saw "predictable, sustained growth," a precipitous decline from 29% for the previous year.[ii]

At the end of this article are graphs showing the Moon's extreme movement patterns for the next few years. Following that are some older Moon declination maps as well. As you review these graphs, please note the following events that occurred during some of these past extreme declination cycles as the transiting north node reached 00º Aries moving into 29º Pisces.

[i] Ken Gillman, Stations of the Moon, National Geocosmic Magazine, Spring 1968. back

[ii] Brodeur,David, Elite Books Press Release, October 2004, Quicktime, dbrodeur@astro-cycles.com. back