JAE SLRs & Demi-SLRs 2022-23

[Jim Eshelman]

My SSR this year occurred at Jamul Casino in Jamul, CA. At the time it set up (October 10, 2022, 1:33:01 PM PDT) I was sitting with Marion having lunch at 32N42'11" 116W52'12".
Jupiter = 7, Venus = 6, Uranus = 6
Benefic = 16, Malefic = 1
Dignity = 7, Indignity = 1
Change = 7
Spotlight = 3

t Venus on Z -0°22'
r Jupiter on WP-a 0°00'
r Uranus on WP-a +0°13'
t Moon on IC +3°39'
t Pluto on EP-a +2°15'
r Neptune on MC +7°31'

r Jupiter-Uranus co 0°04' M
t Pluto sq r Neptune 0°17'
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°18' M
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°22' M
t Moon sq r Jupiter 1°03'
t Moon sq r Urans 1°20'
r Uranus-Neptune sq 2°00'
r Jupiter-Neptune sq 2°16'

Other Partile Aspects
r Mars-Saturn sq 0°18' M
t Mars-Neptune sq 0°22'
-- t Mars sq r Moon 0°34'
-- t Neptune co r Moon 0°56'
t Venus-Mars sq 0°28' M
t Saturn-Uranus sq 0°40'
r Mercury-Uranus s 0°43' M
--- r Mercury-Jupiter sq 0°46' M
t Pluto sq r Saturn 0°49' M

[Jim Eshelman]

Sep 28, 2023, 5:13:13 AM PDT, home
Spotlight = 2
Benefic = 0, Malefic = 0, Dignity = 0, Indignity = 0, Change = 0

Impressions: (No SSR echoes.) A minor chart. Mercury is the main player (and there is a 3°19' Moon-Mercury conjunction if I widened the orbs just a little). Non-foreground partile aspects include a background Venus-Uranus square and Pluto opposite my Jupiter-Uranus mid-quadrant.

r Moon on Dsc -8°25'
t Moon on Dsc -7°01'
t Mercury on Asc -3°51'

non-foreground Partile Aspects
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°28'
t Venus-Uranus sq 0°41' M
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°45'

[Jim Eshelman]

Oct 12, 2023, 2:20:28 AM PDT, home
Benefic = 7, Malefic = 3
Dignity = 5, Indignity = 3
Change = 4
Spotlight = 0

Impressions: This actually occurs after my next birthday. (The SSR will likely be local, probably around Solvang.) This upbeat, "recovering nicely" chart finishes out the year's last SLR. (If Class 2 aspects are included, we get Jupiter opposite natal Saturn 3°17', the "recovery" aspect I mentioned, plus a slightly wider Uranus transit to natal Pluto.) - I don't need to travel for this one but, if I do, then Carpenteria is just about perfect.

r Venus on IC -9°46'
t Uranus on MC -7°23'
r Pluto on Asc -4°05'
---------------------------
t Jupiter on MC +1°15'
r Mercury on IC +3°29'
r Saturn on IC -4°24'

r Venus-Pluto sq 0°13'
t Jupiter op r Mercury 0°53'
r Mercury-Saturn co 0°54' M
t Uranus op r Venus 2°23' M

Other Partile Aspects
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°31'
t Saturn sq r Venus 0°40' M
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°47'
t Sun sq r Mars 0°48' M

[Jim Eshelman]

Oct 7, 2022, 7:56:30 PM PDT, home
Benefic = 14, Malefic = 8, Change = 11, Spotlight = 0, Dignity = 5, Indignity = 8

Impressions: Preparing to start the new year. The first SLR occurs three days before the new SSR. Like the incoming SSR, this SLR has Pluto opposite natal Jupiter-Uranus foreground and is dominated (but not exclusively) by benefics. The charts are thematically similar. (Pluto's angularity is wider than in the SSR, but it seems worth mentioning the parallel.) - My SSR will occur at a casino, so I might be able to make practical use of the doubled-up odds-defying positivity (though I don't have a gambler's chart at birth, so I do tend to get in my own way on such things.)

Beyond that, and perhaps more immediately important, this is an "outstanding" SLR. We will still be in LA. Uranus opposite natal Venus is the primary feature, so it should be fun. I already know it will oversee a month of at least three trips (two primarily for pleasure) - one to San Diego County for my birthday, one a mad dash to eastern Arizona to reprogram my demi-SLR in two weeks, and one to Memphis in the second half of the month - so this Uranus-Venus is a great fit already! (I'll be out of the office about half the time in October.)

t Saturn on Z -1°56'
r Venus on Dsc -1°48'
t Uranus on Asc -1°11'
----------------------------
r Saturn on Dsc +2°31'
r Jupiter on IC +2°47'
r Uranus on IC +3°09'
r Mercury on Dsc +5°31'
t Pluto on MC +6°44'

t Uranus op r Venus 0°37' M
t Saturn-Uranus sq 0°38'
t Pluto sq r Mercury 1°13' M
t Pluto op r Uranus 2°16'
t Pluto op r Jupiter 2°33'

r Jupiter-Saturn sq 0°15' M
r Jupiter-Uranus sq 0°17'
r Saturn-Uranus sq 0°38' M
r Mercury-Uranus sq 2°22' M
r Mercury-Saturn sq 2°24'
r Mercury-Jupiter sq 2°44' M
i.e., r Jupiter-Uranus sq. r Mercury-Saturn


Notice how close everything is. If (since there is so much going on) I try to simply by excluding Class 3 angularities, nothing gets dropped - it's all Class 1 or 2. If I drop Class 2 angularities, the only surviving aspects are transiting Uranus opposite natal Venus plus a natal Jupiter-Saturn paran - both partile. Notice also that it is NATAL benefics that light up and dominate the chart: Were I to look at this chart as transit-only (in the style of the 1940s), it would seem a worrisome chart, even though on balance I regard it as quite pleasant looking.

[Jim Eshelman]

So far, this is going more or less as expected. The starring Uranus transit to natal Venus indeed marking a fun, interesting, outside the usual sort of time (with the birthday trip reported elsewhere). Saturn had her say - there were restrictions and limitations, but they didn't dominate. Other than the lens issue (that "owned" the turf for a few hours), the first few days were clearly led by Uranus' 0°13' opposition to natal Venus, and the week off work (unfortunately, not even able to do the work I wanted to do!) shows in the main mix of planets.

So far so good... with two more trips before these four weeks are over, one definitely for fun. If the new lens comes in tomorrow, I'll be happy enough with the week. (We even got deliveries from three wineries today, about a case of wine altogether. Our supplies had nearly bottomed out, which hasn't happened perhaps in a decade)

I'm not exactly sure what the Saturn-Uranus square means. It's touching so many things these days, it's hard to filter out - hard to identify specifically. Bradley's classic interpretation (the basis of my standard paragraph) doesn't really do it (at least, not very specifically; e.g., I suppose seeing the world without my corrective lens could count as "harsh confrontation with reality,:" but that seems straining at the words for a fit). Fagan didn't give an interpretation for concurrent Saturn + Uranus. As expected, the usual Saturn-Uranus natal interpretation doesn't fit. I do9n't find clues in interps for Uranus transits to Saturn or Saturn transits to Uranus (well, "rebelling against restrictions" and then "voluntarily accepting new limits" of Saturn-to-Uranus is close to the reactions to the lens issue) - probably as close as I'm going to get. Nothing on Ebertin's Saturn-Uranus page is useful.

I'm not too stressed about this (Saturn-Uranus joke) but I don't think I understand this one technical detail in this chart. The month remains young, of course.

[SteveS]

Jim wrote:

I'm not exactly sure what the Saturn-Uranus square means.

IMO (looking from the outside), this aspect simply manifested with “irritability & tension” over the lens issue when ready to leave on the trip and some for the trip itself. It manifested as an “out of the ordinary incident” but not that harsh since both Saturn & Uranus were octile Jupiter, also probably helping (Jupiter) for a quick replacement of the lens by your eye doctor. In other words it would have been worse if not for Jupiter’s octile to the angular Saturn-Uranus aspect.

[Jim Eshelman]

Jim wrote:

I'm not exactly sure what the Saturn-Uranus square means.

IMO (looking from the outside), this aspect simply manifested with “irritability & tension” over the lens issue when ready to leave on the trip and some for the trip itself. It manifested as an “out of the ordinary incident” but not that harsh since both Saturn & Uranus were octile Jupiter, also probably helping (Jupiter) for a quick replacement of the lens by your eye doctor. In other words it would have been worse if not for Jupiter’s octile to the angular Saturn-Uranus aspect.

This fits, of course,, and you're probably right - some version of "tension from wanting different circumstances." However, for a partile Saturn-Uranus square strongly angular, I'd expect a bit more.

What I failed to mention in the analysis yesterday (above) is that this IS a good example of how relative strengths of planets give information. The Saturn-Uranus square is 0°58' wide. Uranus is at 100% angularity strength (1°11' from Asc) and Saturn at 98% strength (1°56' from Zenith). This 100% to 98% gap is considerable. The difference means that, in a contest, Uranus wins! For example, on the question of "Do I get to go on the trip?" - a question of "is my freedom too restricted vs. does freedom triumph" - the answer is, yes, the experience of "getting out," changing scenery, discovery, travel, or whatever prevails over restriction, containment, etc. (though there was room in the outcome for frustration and delays).

Of course, I never took time to reason this out - the universe just worked it out. We do this kind of comparative weighting with planet pairs that are obviously opposites - Jupiter vs. Saturn to see whether, on balance, it will be a gain or loss month; Venus vs. Mars to see whether, on balance, it will be kind or coarse; sun vs. Moon to see whether we will sit solidly in the saddle or be drawn into a flurry of shifting circumstances requiring non-stop adaptation. Whichever is even slightly closer tips the scales. Saturn and Uranus are opposites of a fashion, and while my first instinct is to simply interpret their aspect, the fine details are in such things as their comparative strength.

Years back, I tended to read this sort of thing the opposite way. With a strong Saturn-Uranus square on angles, Uranus more angular than Saturn, I would read this as, "This is primarily a Uranus chart - Uranus themes - but the Uranus is restricted, limited, afflicted, so it will be a bad Uranus, a frustrated Uranus." But that's the wrong approach. The correct approach is, "Uranus and Saturn are having a tug of war and Uranus is stronger: Uranus wins."

[SteveS]

Jim wrote:

Of course, I never took time to reason this out - the universe just worked it out.

Indeed Jim, this happens a-lot to us astrologers. When I first looked at your Oct 7 SLR knowing you were taking a road trip for relocating your SSR, you know my style of first looking to see if the return chart classifies itself as an “outstanding incident” chart according to your guidelines in ISR, and it did. So, being a disciple of Ebertin’s COSI for their delineating tones paying the closes attention to the “Principle” of the planetary combo of Saturn-Uranus I would expect a high % for the “Principle” of:

Irritability and inhibition, tension

for something to do with the road trip, and we see this Saturn-Uranus manifestation with the lost eye lens upon a schedule time for leaving for the trip. “Outstanding incident” SLRs are my # 1 go to charts for planning all of my road trips and other things at home. I love to schedule as much as possible benefic “outstanding incident” SLRs road trips for my life. And yes, I understand overall Uranus won out over Saturn with your rating system, which is actually an excellent way to look at angular aspects with return charts.

[Jim Eshelman]

I think you missed that this was the second strongest aspect. The strongest is transiting Uranus opposite natal Venus in mundo which, of course, fit the trip.

[SteveS]

Yes, I saw that Venus-Uranus the first look and knew it would manifest good for you and Marion, which it most certainly did with the planned trip. But, when you reported that lost lens I thought to myself---there it is: that Saturn-Uranus. That Saturn-Uranus could have manifested in many different ways but you handle its manifestation well and did not let it spoil your trip.

[Jim Eshelman]

Oct 22, 2022, 4:22:14 AM PDT, home
Benefic = 3, Malefic = 8, Change = 3, Spotlight = 6, Dignity = 3, Indignity = 5
Vulnerability-Sensitivity= 11

Impressions: This is an "outstanding" SLR - outstandingly bad! It's only two days before we fly to Memphis for a week of fun, so I particularly do not want the infectious, sickness-prone markers of Moon-Mars-Neptune on angles (which could keep me from being allowed to fly). We decided last summer that we'd drive to Superior, AZ for a turn-around trip, to get something quite different for the set-up. (We're on the road Friday, back on Saturday night.) Notice that this is all under the SLR with transiting Uranus opposite natal Venus across the horizon - a month of travel.

If it set up at home, this would be the chart:

t Jupiter on Dsc -5°57'
t Mars on MC -1°29'
--------------------------
r Moon on Dsc +0°49'
t Neptune on Dsc 1°17'

t Neptune co r Moon 0°28'
t Mars-Neptune sq 2°02'
t Mars sq r Moon 2°19'

On the positive side, the chart has partile Sun conjunct Venus, both square natal Jupiter-Uranus. I would expect these non-foreground aspects to be the backdrop (what's going on despite the primary themes of angular planets).


In Superior, AZ, the chart becomes:
Benefic = 7, Malefic = 4, Change = 0, Spotlight = 3, Dignity = 7, Indignity = 1
t Jupiter on Asc 0°01'
t Mars on MC +5°14'
r Moon on Asc +6°54'
t Neptune on Dsc +7°16'

t Neptune co r Moon 0°21' M
t Mars sq r Moon 1°41' M
t Mars-Neptune 2°02'

I still get Moon-Mars-Neptune foreground, but much wider; and the precisely angular Jupiter should overwhelm it. (It's the best I can do. Ideally we'd have gone much further east, but I think the 0°00' Jupiter [approx.] will do the job. - I keep the Sun-Venus to Jupiter-Uranus, of course.


Once we land Sunday night in Memphis, TN, it becomes:
Benefic = 2, Malefic = 4, Change = 4, Spotlight = 6, Dignity = 7, Indignity = 1
r Jupiter on MC -9°02'
r Uranus on MC -8°47'
r Neptune on Asc -7°56'
t Pluto on IC -6°17'
r Mars on IC -4°35'
-----------------------------
r Sun on Asc +0°22'
t Mercury on Asc +0°40'

t Mercury co r Sun 0°07'
t Pluto sq r Neptune 0°14'
r Jupiter-Uranus co 0°15' M
r Uranus-Neptune sq 0°51' M
r Jupiter-Neptune sq 1°06' M
t Pluto op r Uranus 2°04' M
t Pluto co r Mars 2°08' M
t Pluto op r Jupiter 2°19' M
r Mars-Neptune sq 2°25'

Moon-Mars-Neptune is background. Natal Jupiter-Uranus is now barely foreground, still having the squares from Sun-Venus. The main feature is my Sun precisely rising conjoined by transiting Mercury.

[Jim Eshelman]

With so much happening, I want to tighten in on the main themes by dropping out all but Class 1 angularities (and their aspects) to make the biggest themes jump out better.

At home, this would be the chart:

t Mars on MC -1°29'
--------------------------
r Moon on Dsc +0°49'
t Neptune on Dsc 1°17'

t Neptune co r Moon 0°28'
t Mars-Neptune sq 2°02'
t Mars sq r Mon 2°19'


In Superior, AZ, things get really simple:

t Jupiter on Asc 0°01'


In Memphis, TN, its also simple:

r Sun on Asc +0°22'
t Mercury on Asc +0°40'

t Mercury co r Sun 0°07'

[Jim Eshelman]

For the night, we're at 33N17'17", 111W06'04". TMSA pulls 33N17'38", 111W05'46", so the coordinates are essentially identical to what I used above, Jupiter is 1' from Descendant.

it's an interesting little town, btw.

[Jim Eshelman]

r Sun on Asc +0°22'
t Mercury on Asc +0°40'

t Mercury co r Sun 0°07'

These are the details of my Dem-SLR for Memphis. The SLR setup in Arizona where Jupiter was 01' from an angle but, in Memphis, natal Sun is within 22' of Ascendant.

What's that mean?

Well, there I was at 12:06 PM, standing (with Marion and two friends) in Sun Studio on the spot where rock'n'roll was born, the place where Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Ike Turner, and others began their career and did their magic.

As I was standing in that spot, behind me somebody I don't know said, "Wait, is that Jim Eshelman?" They surreptitiously Googled, then, in a moment, introduced themselves. A nice, brief visit and some photos followed - the couple was visiting from St. Louis - before we returned our attention to the lesser celebrities (Elvis and the like).

Natal Sun on Ascendant!

[Veronica]

Astrology is just so beautiful.

[SteveS]

[Jim Eshelman]

The Demi-SLR relocations couldn't have been more successful or expressive. Having it setup with transiting Jupiter a minute from an angle covered the initial period of our Arizona trip, the pre-flight days, and overshadowed the entire spectacular trip to Memphis. - The Moon-Mars-Neptune couldn't be avoided entirely, but it was shoved to the distant edges of the foreground and expressed only in a minor way (a skin inflammation that was mostly a nuisance). The angle relocations to Memphis identified singular, unusual events that happened specifically because I was there.

What I really wanted to mention, though, is that the full SLR has been a great example of how you just can't ignore the mundane aspects. Including them on an equal basis with ecliptical aspects is easily the biggest breakthrough in return theory and practice in decades. Going just by angularities, the SLR would have been a little pleasant, a little dour; but I read these especially from the aspects. Were the mundane aspects not included, the entire month would have been a Saturn-Uranus square plus Pluto's slow transit to my Jupiter-Uranus.

But including the mundane aspects had the SLR lead with the beautiful, stunning Uranus transit opposite natal Venus only 0°37' wide and closely angular. It's been the hallmark of the whole month, the Demi just fitting within it this time.

Solunars were the most useful tool in our arsenal before this discovery but, in hindsight, we missed a LOT in the process. Every now and then I pull up a lunar and look at it as I would in the '70s or '80s - eyeballing the angularity and taking only ecliptical aspects - just to get a fresh look at how I would have viewed it. Often I shake my head at the mystery of how these wonderful tools held our attention in the first place.

I know part of it was that I was correctly estimating or exactly calculating mundane angularities and thought the angular planets were more important, with the aspects only acting as a kind of "comment" on them. Knowing transiting Uranus and natal Venus were the most angular planets would have given me an idea similar to the closely foreground Uranus-Venus transit. With time, it's become clear that, while the closest angularities give the essential feel, the real activity, the full texture of the time is especially in the aspects. The rest is all in the relative closeness of orbs, whether of aspects or angularities: I sometimes think we should be collating aspects and angular contacts together (as if angularities were merely "aspects" with angles), using this to decide whether angularity or aspects were more important. In that case, the closest factors in the current SLR would have put the angularities themselves several steps down the list:

t Uranus op r Venus 0°37' M
t Saturn-Uranus sq 0°38'
t Uranus on Asc 1°11'
t Pluto sq r Mercury 1°13' M
r Venus on Dsc 1°48'
t Pluto op r Uranus 2°16'
r Saturn on Dsc 2°31'
t Pluto op r Jupiter 2°33'
r Jupiter on IC 2°47'

[Jim Eshelman]

Nov 4, 2022, 1:48:17 AM PST, home
Benefic = 0, Malefic = 1, Change = 0, Spotlight = 4, Dignity = 0, Indignity = 1

OK, the great month is over. The new one (I'll likely feel it by tomorrow) has one of my less favorite transits of this era of life, but overall this seems a quite minor chart. Other factors are likely to have more pronounced impact than this SLR.

Impressions: (No SSR echoes.) This is probably a quite minor chart. Though there is one partile foreground major transit, the planets are all weakly placed. I've added non-foreground partile aspects to supplement. (I expect minor frustrations.)

r Moon on Dsc -8°05'
t Neptune on Dsc -7°25'
t Moon on Dsc -6°27'

t Neptune co r Moon 0°26'

Other partile aspects
t Pluto sq r Neptune 0°06'
t Sun co r Mercury 0°27'
t Mercury co r Saturn 0°43' M

[Jim Eshelman]

This is a good test of whether Vertex contacts (measured mundanely) are valid in these charts, since they are much stronger than the standard factors (with one aspect at 0°01'). Here are relevant azimuth positions (the natal positions are aprecessional):

266°12' - r Moon
267°13' - t Saturn
272°39' - r Mars
272°40' - t Pluto

Were these acknowledged angles, I'd expect a health crisis.

[Jim Eshelman]

Several technical observations arise out of the last couple of lunars. (I can't call them "conclusions," because these are only a couple of observations; but they do tip some of my inquiries in certain directions.

First, considering location and relocation of lunar returns: Going back to the 10/22 Demi-SLR, remember that it had Moon-Mars-Neptune on angles for LA so we drove to Superior, AZ to put transiting Jupiter 0°01' from an angle. This also left the Moon-Mars-Neptune T-square foreground, but 5°-10° from the angles instead of partile.

The two-week was indeed primarily positive with a unusually good vacation and other positives. It was not, however, entirely free of Moon-Mars-Neptune. I didn't feel this in the day or so we were back in LA, but in Memphis I started to develop a skin rash on my lower extremities which gradually spread up my body. I interpret this as arising from the original (Arizona) DSLR which had the Moon-Mars-Neptune distantly foreground. When I returned to LA (where these were angular), it worsened - red, itching, burning, irritable.

Interpretation: The original location of the SLR ruled (overall outstanding fortnight) and likely kept the Mars-Neptune from being something worse (while I was gone, some people at work came down with a new severe virus). The month mostly went as described in the original chart, added the solar events in Memphis that I described above, and developed stronger Moon-Mars-Neptune qualities after I returned home.

This then brings us to the 11/4 SLR.

Proportionate strength of wide foreground vs. partile aspect: This chart was theoretically interesting because it's one foreground aspect was a partile Neptune conjunction with natal Moon, but they were 7°-8° from the angles. This has become one of my least favorite aspects, so I expected excessive sensitivity, a sense of frailty, various other Neptune phenomena, but perhaps not as severe as they might otherwise be.

Outcome: The aspect was fully actualized to the extent that the rash continued and worsened, making me uncomfortable and draining strength. A first attempt at getting medical attention was compromised by miscommunication between the doctor and the pharmacy. A second attempt (with only a little more confusion en route) was successful and I'm using steroids that are knocking it out fast. The course of treatment will expire exactly the day of the upcoming Demi-SLR.

The other (non-foreground) partile aspects in the SLR didn't have any real presence, unless one takes Mercury conjunct natal Saturn as a generic "undesirable circumstances and flummoxed plans" sort of thing. I don't think the chart needs it, and the other aspects weren't really obvious. It was that single Moon-Neptune conjunction, partile and widely angular, that has rather dramatically marked the time.

Prime Vertical Parans (PVPs): I also noted that the current lunar had aspects on the prime vertical. We don't get many examples of this, so I was eager to see how they might turn out. These were transiting Saturn conjunct natal Moon, transiting Pluto conjunct natal Mars, and the two conjunctions more widely conjunct each other - all within 3° of the PV (except Moon which was a little further out).

I said in advance that if these were valid, I'd expect a health crisis. That's exactly what happened, although the Moon-Neptune was probably sufficient to trigger it on its own. Nonetheless, these are encouraging for further watching of PVPs (which have proven themselves quite important in ingresses). The aspects reasonably fit the planet symbolism better than they fit Moon-Neptune (except Moon-Neptune shows sensitivity - clearly the cause of the problem and some of its symptoms). Against these PVPs, I could argue that Moon was a bit far away and the Saturn-Moon was the more descriptive aspect. Nonetheless, if anything this chart suggests I should keep looking at these.

[Jim Eshelman]

Nov 18, 2022, 12:43:01 PM, work
Benefic = 1, Malefic = 3, Change = 3, Spotlight = 1, Dignity = 0, Indignity = 3
This occurs Friday. I should be feeling it by lunchtime Thursday.

Impressions: (No SSR echoes.) Saturn is most angular, but nothing is very strong. OTOH the one partile transiting aspect (of established planets) seems straightforward and pleasant. (Partile aspect and wider angularity is the pattern of the full SLR.) Probably private and pleasantly concentrated on work. (The non-foreground partile aspects give a mix of signals in three clusters.)

t Venus on Z -2°56'
r Moon on Asc -8°22'
r Pluto on Dsc -6°52'
t Mercury on Z -2°00'
---------------------------
t Sedna on N +0°57'
t Saturn on Asc +5°42'

t Venus-Sedna op 0°31' M
t Mercury-Venus sq. 0°56'
r Moon-Pluto op 1°30'
t Mercury-Sedna op 2°41' M

Other Partile Aspects
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°03' M
-- r Jupiter-Uranus 0°04' M
-- t Pluto op r Uranus 0°07' M
-- t Pluto sq r Neptune 0°07'
t Mars-Neptune sq 0°13'
-- t Neptune co r Moon 0°15'
-- t Mars sq r Moon 0°28'
t Sun co r Venus 0°27'
-- t Sun sq r Mars 0°38' M
-- t Sun sq r Pluto 0°41'

+ Numerous Eris and Sedna aspects including t Eris conjunct r Eris 0°06' in mundo.

[Jim Eshelman]

Dec 1, 2022, 7:15:34 AM PST, my office (Century City)
Benefic = 8, Mazlefic = 4, Change = 0, Spotlight = 5
Dignity = 8, Indignity = 1, Sex = 5

Impressions: (No SSR echoes.) No natal planets foreground - only transiting. Of these, most are barely foreground. Although the barely foreground planets have some strange, even unsettling (surely confusing) aspects, the closely foreground planets are primarily benefic and look enjoyable.

t Mercury on Asc -7°09'
t Mars on Dsc -3°59'
t Venus on Asc -3°37'
----------------------------
t Jupiter on IC +1°39'
t Sun on Asc +6°19'
t Moon on IC +6°59'
t Neptune on IC +8°17'

t Moon-Neptune co 0°11'
t Venus-Mars op. 0°22'
t Moon-Mercury sq 0°26'
t Mercury-Neptune sq 0°38'
t Moon-Sun sq 0°39' M
t Sun-Neptune sq 1°58' M
t Mercury-Venus co 2°43'

Other Partile Aspects
r Jupiter-Uranus co 0°01' M
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°04' M
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°05' M
t Saturn sq r Mercury 0°17' M
t Pluto sq r Neptune 0°24'

[Jim Eshelman]

The expectation I originally posted (especially the last Impressions sentence) were all on target. "Private and pleasantly concentrated on work" is a good description. Marion and I made good use of Thanksgiving with a fabulous feast at a Tunisian restaurant. Work was quiet due to the holidays. And, most notably, I finished Handbook of Sidereal Natal Astrology, which (along with the general pleasantness) is a great expression of the Mercury-Venus aspect dominating. Saturn was reasonably hanging around - balancing money issues mostly - but the foreground aspect was indeed the main mark.

I have no sense of a clear Sedna meaning. It was most angular (partile to Nadir) and had the closest aspect (transiting Venus-Sedna opposition). From the various Sedna themes we've speculated, the only thing that seems even potentially fitting was my having to deal with (remove) an abusive incel activist here on the forum. The feels like a good fit, though it's not obvious to me what exactly the interpretive meaning is. "Justice for the woman" is maybe the closest? Not sure. If this event wasn't Sedna (if we take the working practice of ignoring Sedna), this event with Timeless seems primarily transiting Saturn, the strongest planet, plus my Moon-Pluto mundane opposition standing out.

Nov 18, 2022, 12:43:01 PM, work

Impressions: (No SSR echoes.) Saturn is most angular, but nothing is very strong. OTOH the one partile transiting aspect (of established planets) seems straightforward and pleasant. (Partile aspect and wider angularity is the pattern of the full SLR.) Probably private and pleasantly concentrated on work.

r Pluto on Dsc -6°52'
t Mercury on Z -2°00'
---------------------------
t Sedna on N +0°57'
t Saturn on Asc +5°42'

t Venus-Sedna op 0°31' M
t Mercury-Venus sq. 0°56'
r Moon-Pluto op 1°30'
t Mercury-Sedna op 2°41' M

[Jim Eshelman]

Dec 15, 2022, 9:13:43 PM PST, home
Benefic = 4, Malefic = 9, Change = 10, Spotlight = 0, Dignity = 0, Indignity = 5
Personal Loss = 7, Shifting Conditions = 5, Commerce 5

Impressions: (No SSR echoes.) This is an "outstanding" return. Transiting Saturn and Uranus are square 0°02' in the immediate foreground.

r Venus on IC -7°32'
r Pluto on Asc 2°01'
---------------------------
t Saturn on Dsc +1°45'
t Uranus on MC +1°47'
r Mercury on IC +5°54'
r Saturn on IC +6°58'

t Saturn-Uranus sq 0°02' M
r Venus-Pluto sq 0°13'
r Mercury-Saturn co 1°03' M

Other Partile Aspects'
t Neptune co r Moon 0°14'
t Pluto s r Neptune 0°47'

Of possible interest: t Eris squares natal Mars 0°00' (it makes one of its annual exact conjunctions in a few days), with wider partile aspects to natal Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune.

[Jim Eshelman]

This occurs Thursday night, presumably at home. I might be feeling it as early as tonight. If I simplify it a bit by dropping out Class 3 angularities, it looks like this:

r Pluto on Asc 2°01'
---------------------------
t Saturn on Dsc +1°45'
t Uranus on MC +1°47'
r Mercury on IC +5°54'
r Saturn on IC +6°58'

t Saturn-Uranus sq 0°02' M
r Mercury-Saturn co 1°03' M

Saturn square Uranus is the primary feature, joined next by natal Pluto closely rising. While it's always possible this is some big event I don't yet see, and even though it's easily in the stand-out, priority, or "outstanding" category, I'm expecting not much to happen. I've been writing to Steve this week that I often see not much occurring under transiting Saturn-Uranus aspects in the sense that they are primarily tug-of-war aspects: One can feel the pull and some kind of tension, and occasionally they have more serious events - especially if strongly involved with other planets (and here natal Pluto is fore).

Here is what I expect: For almost exactly the two weeks of this chart, I have arranged for the rest of my team at work to take time off. I'll be the only person in my department "holding down the fort." I expect the office to be nearly empty for the last two weeks of December, especially the third week (and if nothing is on calendar, I may work the last week at home - accessing remotely). Marion will be gone out of state the last week of December on a family matter. [This mild occurrence suggests that the natal Venus-Pluto that fell away when I dropped Class 3 angularities should, in fact, be counted.]

The net effect of all of this will be a tension between having to be at work - in the office - and wanting to be "free," working from home, "outside" the usual environment. It likely will be more boring that anything else, certainly not unpleasant or truly restricting, just a bit of "Do I really have to be here?" (Of course I do, if for no other reason than to get paid; plus, some things will need occasional attention.) - And I'll definitely be isolated (natal Pluto rising) between the office being nearly empty and Marion being gone the last week. (There comes my natal Mercury-Saturn conjunction more widely foreground: Plugging away at work and trying to keep myself motivated.)

That's what I'm expecting.

[Jim Eshelman]

Dec 28, 2022, 1:27:06 PM PST, home
Benefic = 17, Malefic = 8, Change = 16, Spotlight = 0, Dignity = 7, Indignity = 8
Shifting Conditions = 11, Commerce = 11

This is not until next week, but I might as well post it now. It's particularly interesting, though occurring in what currently looks like a really boring time.

Impressions: (Some SSR echoes, though not purely.) This is an "outstanding" SLR: Transiting Uranus to natal Jupiter-Uranus, and transiting Pluto to natal Saturn-Uranus (plus Jupiter) sounds like a very dramatic shift in fundamental structures and sense of prosperity. The single closest angularity of these five planets is natal Jupiter 0°04' from IC.

r Venus on Dsc -3°17'
t Uranus on Asc -0°42'
r Jupiter on IC -0°04'
----------------------------
r Saturn on Dsc +1°05'
t Pluto on MC +1°08'
r Uranus on IC +1°17'
r Mercury on Dsc +4°05'
r Neptune on WP +1°16'
t Mercury on MC +7°25'
r Mars on MC +7°34'
t Venus on MC +8°43'

t Pluto sq r Saturn 0°04' M
t Mercury co r Mars 0°09' M
t Venus co r Mars 0°29'
t Uranus sq r Jupiter 0°38' M
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°50'
t Venus sq r Neptune 0°50' M
t Mercury-Venus co 0°51'
t Uranus sq r Uranus 0°59' M
t Pluto op r Jupiter 1°07'
t Pluto sq r Neptune 1°10'
t Uranus op r Saturn 1°47'
t Uranus-Pluto sq 1°50' M
t Mercury sq r Neptune 2°04'
t Uranus op r Venus 2°34' M
t Uranus op r Mercury 2°48'
t Pluto sq r Mercury 2°57' M

r Jupiter-Uranus sq 0°17'
r Saturn-Uranus sq 0°47' M
r Jupiter-Saturn sq 1°09' M
r Mars-Neptune sq 1°59' M
r Uranus-Neptune sq 2°00'
r Jupiter-Neptune sq 2°16'
r Mercury-Saturn 2°24'

[Jim Eshelman]

If I drop out the Class 3 angularities (transiting Mercury and Venus, natal Mars), this simplifies a little.

r Venus on Dsc -3°17'
t Uranus on Asc -0°42'
r Jupiter on IC -0°04'
----------------------------
r Saturn on Dsc +1°05'
t Pluto on MC +1°08'
r Uranus on IC +1°17'
r Mercury on Dsc +4°05'
r Neptune on WP +1°16'

t Pluto sq r Saturn 0°04' M
t Uranus sq r Jupiter 0°38' M
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°50'
t Uranus sq r Uranus 0°59' M
t Pluto op r Jupiter 1°07'
t Pluto sq r Neptune 1°10'
t Uranus op r Saturn 1°47'
t Uranus-Pluto sq 1°50' M
t Uranus op r Venus 2°34' M
t Uranus op r Mercury 2°48'
t Pluto sq r Mercury 2°57' M

r Jupiter-Uranus sq 0°17'
r Saturn-Uranus sq 0°47' M
r Jupiter-Saturn sq 1°09' M
r Uranus-Neptune sq 2°00'
r Jupiter-Neptune sq 2°16'
r Mercury-Saturn 2°24'


However, if I also drop out Class 2 angularities (keeping only planets in the IMMEDIATE foreground), it simplifies a lot more, especially when we sort the aspects according to related patterns (they're ALL related):

t Uranus on Asc -0°42'
r Jupiter on IC -0°04'
----------------------------
r Saturn on Dsc +1°05'
t Pluto on MC +1°08'
r Uranus on IC +1°17'

t Pluto sq r Saturn 0°04' M
-- -- t Pluto op r Uranus 0°50'
-- -- t Pluto op r Jupiter 1°07'
t Uranus sq r Jupiter 0°38' M
-- -- t Uranus sq r Uranus 0°59' M
-- -- t Uranus op r Saturn 1°47'
t Uranus-Pluto sq 1°50' M

r Jupiter-Uranus sq 0°17'
r Saturn-Uranus sq 0°47' M
r Jupiter-Saturn sq 1°09' M

[Jim Eshelman]

Jan 12, 2023, 4:06:21 AM PST, home

Impressions: (No SSR echoes.) This is an "outstanding" (and outstandingly bad) return! A partile Moon-Mars-Neptune configuration falls in the immediate foreground (as in late October). Mars-Neptune itself is 0°00' and Mars is stationary! We are headed to Sierra Vista, AZ near Tombstone for this demi-SLR. (Eastern Arizona is becoming the default for these, easier to get to than eastern Utah, and often easy to pick up Jupiter angular).

t Jupiter on IC -9°38'
-------------------------
t Moon on MC +0°30'
t Mars on Dsc +1°00' (stationary)
t Neptune on IC +1°01'
r Moon on IC +4°40'

t Mars-Neptune sq 0°00' M
t Moon-Neptune op 0°31' M (Neptune co r Moon 0°38')
t Moon-Mars sq. 0°31' M


For Sierra Vista, AZ (final motel location): (notice t Moon is barely foreground, r Moon is not at all - If I drop out wide angularities, I get only the 0°00' Jupiter)

t Jupiter on IC 0°01'
t Mars on Dsc +9°38'
t Moon on MC +9°17''

t Moon-Mars sq 0°20' M

[Jim Eshelman]

We'll stay home until after sunrise Wednesday to get Marion's transiting Mercury to natal Jupiter angular SLR, then we're headed for Sierra Vista. A day in Tombstone, a day to drive back, one night here at home, then two days in north Santa Barbara County where the chart is a little better than at home (slightly wider angularities). Then back home for a couple of more days off.

[Jim Eshelman]

The SLR occurred while I slept. I was at precisely 31N33'19", 110W16'53". I've updated the miniute details of the SLR in the post above.

[Jim Eshelman]

This has gone great! - even after we left Arizona, we had a restful day at home (under the adverse chart) and then two days back on the road in wine country (still in the adverse zone), and then back at work where - at most - things got crazy busy a couple of days. But nothing unpleasant. It's been a sail thus far.

Jan 12, 2023, 4:06:21 AM PST, home

t Moon on MC +0°30'
t Mars on Dsc +1°00' (stationary)
t Neptune on IC +1°01'
r Moon on IC +4°40'

t Mars-Neptune sq 0°00' M
t Moon-Neptune op 0°31' M (Neptune co r Moon 0°38')
t Moon-Mars sq. 0°31' M


For Sierra Vista, AZ (final motel location):

t Jupiter on IC 0°01'

[Jim Eshelman]

Jan 24, 2023, 10:07:41 PM PST, home
Benefic = 5, Malefic = 0, Spotlight = 0, Change = 0, Dignity = 5, Indignity = 0

Impressions: (No SSR echoes.) Quite simple and positive. Mercury-Jupiter are in wide square, but simply their angularity is advantageous.

t Mercury on IC -3°29'
--------------------------
t Jupiter on Dsc +2°02'

NOTE: One could add r Eris 2°21' from Dsc, which makes for t Jupiter conjunct r Eris 0°20' in mundo and t Mercury also (1°41'). I note this to keep it in mind. Otherwise, no foreground aspects.

Another obscure thing, if PVP aspects apply as in ingresses, a stunningly positive aspect and pretty extraordinary setup in azimuth:
87°38' - r Neptune
89°13' - r Venus
89°18' - r Pluto
89°19' - r Mercury
90/270° - Vx/Av axis
91°08' - r Sun
272°13' - t Moon
272°22' - t Jupiter

Other Partile Aspects
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°01' M
t Eris sq r Mars 0°03'
t Neptune co r Moon 0°05' M
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°14'
t Venus op r Pluto 0°32'
t Venus sq r Venus 0°40' M

[Jim Eshelman]

t Mercury on IC -3°29'
--------------------------
t Jupiter on Dsc +2°02'

So far, I think this simple chart has been the nice gift from StarAgeWiz of the Fagan-Malenke letters. Transiting Jupiter is a gift received, Mercury shows the subject matter.

And last night I went in to the office for half an hour (though they had to pay me for four hours by law) to monitor and test on a remote upgrade that was being run. No big deal, barely noticed, but the bottom line was that (because of what the upgrade was and who needed it most) I got an unusual amount of praise and appreciation. This was technically interesting because it was clear that the extra appreciation was from the right timing of a step we might have routinely done anytime: We happened to have it scheduled one day after an important client made a strong request for it. So, from the SLR perspective, the unusual praise wouldn't have happened at a different time.

Again, not a big deal - but, then, nothing is super-close. It's a nice, simple, but "no big deal" lunar.

[Jim Eshelman]

Returning to the last demi - given below with the first breakout being for home and the second (colored) for where it actually occurred. Class 3 angularities dropped out.

This fortnight was unquestionably Jupiter-dominated, not Moon-Mars-Neptune dominated. The relocation for the chart clearly "won." I took a week off and we used it for two vacations, the first to Arizona for the Demi-SLR setup (saw Tombstone, had a good time on the road, family connection and meal, then drive back - only downside was the strain of the drive). Then home (meant to spend the night, but spent an extra day due to heavy rains and to rest up). Then off to our favorite wine region for a tour de force like we hadn't done in a long time, maybe since pre-Covid. The whole was a leisurely pace for us and we noticeably felt great. - Notice that the wine region was also in the Moon-Mars-Neptune zone like home.

The subsequent week had little Moon-Mars-Neptune I'd ever have noticed. (Minor irritations including a skin irritation slow to clear, but no big deal: Jupiter won.) There was one very interesting thing, though - not what I'd expect from so close and strong a Moon-Mars-Neptune presence, almost too minor to mention yet interesting: The current Secretary of Homeland Security is someone I've known (at the let's sit down and have lunch level) for 15 years. For some reason, I couldn't get him and his department out of my head all week. It was as if I kept ruminating on the concepts of "threat" or "danger" or "challenge to security" and it anchored on him and the federal department. I didn't have fretful dreams, but a couple of days I woke up with him being the first thing on my mind. This seems to be my psyche centering around ideas of threat and challenge to security in utterly benign ways.

t Moon on MC +0°30'
t Mars on Dsc +1°00' (stationary)
t Neptune on IC +1°01'
r Moon on IC +4°40'

t Mars-Neptune sq 0°00' M
t Moon-Neptune op 0°31' M (Neptune co r Moon 0°38')
t Moon-Mars sq. 0°31' M

For Sierra Vista, AZ[/i]
t Jupiter on IC 0°01'

[Jim Eshelman]

Feb 8, 2023, 9:56:08 AM PST, at work (34N03'31", 118W24'59")
Benefic = 10, Malefic = 4. Change = 13, Spotlight = 6, Dignity = 13, Indignity = 7
(Something representing the Neptune strength such as vulnerability-sensitivity.)

Impressions: This is an "outstanding" return with strong echoes of the SSR. (The FIVE planets within a few minutes of the angles is highly unusual.) - Transiting Pluto opposes natal Jupiter-Uranus (partile) all exactly square Ascendant. Presuming Pluto to Jupiter-Uranus is positive (as it usually is), this is spectacular (well, not so crazy about natal Neptune). I'm sure it will be a spectacle either way. - The only thing (besides that 0°00' natal Neptune) that concerns me is that this is within about a day of transiting Saturn square my natal local MC.

r Saturn on Dsc -8°41'
r Mercury on Dsc -5°34'
----------------------------- r Neptune on Dsc 0°00'
t Pluto on Z +0°05'
r Jupiter on N +0°09'
r Sun on WP +0°11'
r Uranus on N +0°26'
t Mercury on Z +2°30'

t Mercury sq r Neptune 0°04'
r Jupiter-Uranus co 0°13' M
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°14'
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°31'
r Uranus-Neptune sq 2°00'
t Mercury op r Uranus 2°04'
r Jupiter-Neptune sq 2°16'
t Mercury op r Jupiter 2°20'
r Mercury-Saturn co 2°24'
t Pluto sq r Neptune 2°31'
t Mercury-Pluto co 2°34'
(i.e., Mercury-Pluto to r Jupiter-Uranus-Neptune)

Other Partile Aspects
0°10' t Saturn sq r Venus
0°23' t Saturn op r Pluto

Dropping out Class 3 angularity loses transiting Mercury and natal Saturn plus Mercury's aspects (to Pl = r Ju/Ur). Switching to "outstanding" filters highlights Pluto's opposition to natal Jupiter-Uranus while also retaining natal Neptune and Sun (both 100% like Pluto, Uranus, and Jupiter).

Ebertin's idea of Pluto to Jupiter-Uranus (Pl = Ju/Ur) - I'm always skeptical of his Pluto interpretations, but they're a starting point - is: "An unusual striving for knowledge and understanding, a strong awareness of purpose or of objective in life, a far-seeing creative activity. - A sudden change in financial circumstances." The Supplement adds: "Unusual success, unusual inventions."

Code: Select all

TRANSIT		NATAL					COMBINED
100 - Pluto	100 - Sun Jupiter Uranus Neptune	100 - Sun Jupiter Uranus
85 - Mercury	92 - Mercury				      Neptune Pluto
74 - Uranus	81 - Saturn				92 - Mercury
70 - Jupiter	72 - Mars				81 - Saturn
39 - Mars	70 - Venus				72 - Mars
37 - Moon	8 - Moon				70 - Venus
31 - Neptune	1 - Pluto				37 - Moon
15 - Sun						
11 - Venus	
4 - Saturn

[Patrick Machado]

No expectation that natal Neptune will dominate the fortnight, rendering even the stunning neutral-benefic factors secondary? On the other hand, I'm glad the overlapping full Lunar, though simple, is straightforwardly benefic. (Off the mark?)

[Jim Eshelman]

"Expectation" is too strong. "Worry" or "concern" is more on target. I don't yet feel "apprehension," though under a natal Neptune 0°00' from an angle, I'd expect to feel apprehension about damn near anything once it sets up, We'll see.

I came into the office this morning, knowing about that lunar in two days, thinking I had two serious vulnerabilities that could blow up in my face. One was an email from my manager where I couldn't understand the tone and thought it might be a reprimand for not pre-informing him of extra hours I was working. (It turned out to be the opposite.) The other was a double event to set up with the VIP-est of VIPs that had too little information, a lot of unclarity, and six ways it could blow. However, I cleared up the miscommunication in the first half hour and everything went perfectly.

Neither of them was a problem. But they do seem to be pre-warning me to make sure things are really really clear for two weeks and that I actually am looking at what a thing is before I jump to conclusions.

As I said... we'll see. My expectation of natal Neptune angular is that I will want to get absorbed in or enveloped by something, will be super-sensitive, heavily tempted and easily "taken in," and perhaps inflating my responses to everything (embarrassment, anxiety, frustration, doubt, confusion, uncertainty, unclarity). Fagan and Firebrace, in contrast, wrote that if unafflicted one just wants to take a vacation and lose oneself in distractins or favorite temptations.

We'll see.

[Jim Eshelman]

I should add to the last answer: I've said that the "super close" that is so much at the peak of the curve that it overwhelms everything falls within 5-10' of the angle. While the Neptune at 0°00' is as precisely at the peak as can be, there are FOUR planets within 0°11' of an angle - adding transiting Pluto and natal Sun and Jupiter. Neptune has the edge, Pluto nearly as much an edge, and Sun and Jupiter are fighting them for honors.

All of these score 100% in TMSA. However, the 100% threshold starts at 0°54' (99.5% rounds to 100%). The same sine-shaped curve is 99.95% (rounds to 99.9 instead of 100.0) at 0°12', so that might be some sort of threshold, though by experience I've only been able to track it to about 10' (but in all cases with the weakness that even the best birth times likely aren't accurate to the second of time). Adding the extra decimal point for perspective, in the chart above (presuming everything is perfectly exact), Neptune is 100.00%, Pluto 99.99%, natal Sun 99.97%, and natal Jupiter 99.96%. In contrast, natal Uranus is a "mere" 99.77%

Of course, one could argue that, other than Neptune, the others "drop off" slightly faster because they are all minor angles.

[Jim Eshelman]

The 28 Demi with natal Neptune 0' from an angle, a 4' Mercury-Neptune aspect, and TONS of other things has had surprises. It's so extreme that the other pmanets with 5-10' of the angles are hard to see in contrast. I've also had very important transits concurrently, especially Saturn's transit to natal Venus-Pluto and my local MC.

Two main results I can detect:

First, I have to stop forgetting to interpret Neptune in terms of health. "Convalescence" is the main word, though "frailty" goes with it. As the return approached, I developed an infection of some sort in my eye lid.(Not the eye. Just the lid.) It swelled up, was nearly purple from red, was pretty ugly. When it does that, my lens gets displaced or flutters on the eye, so unclarity and blurriness are LITERALLY true. Fighting the infection dragged down my energy for a few days, but the main effect was that it was so ugly and scary looking that I took a sick day and a WFH day so it didn't freak out everybody at work.

This was also just as Saturn squared my Venus, which entirely fits.

Then, back at work, the personal laptop I keep at work suddenly failed: It wouldn't boot. I told this story at greater length in Club Aldebaran but the main effects were anxiety I'd have to replace it (which wold have been a deep wound). I did save it with a LOT of work and rebuilt the system. It doesn't QUITE work perfectly yet, but it's 95% there. Thus was Neptune and Mercury-Neptune in several ways.

BTW, this part of it occurred just as Saturn was opposing my Pluto.

As for the other planets, there has been nothing big or extreme. One could say all those nice benefics go with both these poems resolving quickly and being ultimately OK; but, then, things are USUALLY okay.

[Jim Eshelman]

Before wrapping up tjhis fortnight, I should mention that there were two - not one, but two! - technology meltdowns within a week of each other. I wrote about the laptop at work above. Then, a few days ago, I awoke to finding my phone wouldn't unlock OR restart or shutdown. The screen was responsive (e.g., I could snooze and turn off alarms or answer calls), but it wouldn't unlock, restart, or power off. It seemed to be working fine otherwise in the sense that I could track it with the Find Your Phone option through a web page and could connect it to my computer and access various features (but neither of these options let me restart it).

After trying various things, I called the carrier and had one of the worst support experiences ever, in that (communication difficulties with her aside), she made a suggestion; I asked her explicitly, "Doesn't that wipe the phone completely?" to which she responded, "No, it's just a way to force it to restart, it won't wipe the phone"; I did the process; and then I stared as my phone wiped itself completely.

So I spent an entire day getting it more or less back to full operation, everything installed, the Windows layer put atop it, work resources reconnected, and individually configuring over a hundred apps on it.

Computer AND phone: "Tech meltdown" marks the most obvious features of a demi-lunar with a Mercury-Pluto conjunction on Zenith!

In fact, this would have been easier to read correctly (right general direction) if I'd treated it like a 1940s Fagan and Bradley model more or less - no natal in the middle, old school way of reading foreground that more resembles angular houses. I'd have seen a Mercury-Pluto conjunction in the 10th house with Mercury also in moderate mundane square to Uranus in the 1st house. That would have been the chart, and would have been pretty descriptive!

After that, the old school approach would have observed a middleground, mostly unaspected Sun (nothing much to read there, and its 11th house placement didn't seem to add anything) - unless you want to count the moderate Sun-Uranus square (surprise!). More descriptive was the background Moon (6th house) opposite Neptune (the description in Solar and Lunar Returns catches the tone pretty well. But none of these are big things.

In any case, I'm not suggesting we switch back to a 1940s retro mode on reading these. I just found it interesting that "forget the natals for a moment" gave a much sharper look despite the fact that I had FOUR natal planets within 0°26' of an angle. The natal Neptune 0°00' was fitting enough, but nowhere as dead-on as the transiting planets alone - even with wider orbs of aspects and angularities. The overall aspect view was transiting Mercury-Pluto to natal Jupiter-Uranus, but I don't exactly know what the natal Jupiter-Uranus was about. It seems thin to interpret it as , "Everything came out OK, right?" Some individual aspects are meaningful, including for sure the 0°04' Mercury transiting square to natal Neptune and the tech aspect of transiting opposite natal Uranus (2°), but I'm not sure what to make of transiting Pluto to natal Jupiter-Uranus, Mercury opposite natal Jupiter (2°20'), and the rest. All of these were closer than the 2°34' transiting Mercury-Pluto conjunction. (Even adding the eyelid inflammation, none of these seem on target.)

And, of course, the concurrent Saturn transits to natal Venus-Pluto and local MC. These were detailed elsewhere.

I suppose I'm rambling because, despite the things this chart got right, I'd expect something sharper and clearer from a return that had so many things THIS close.

r Neptune on Dsc 0°00'
t Pluto on Z +0°05'
r Jupiter on N +0°09'
r Sun on WP +0°11'
r Uranus on N +0°26'

t Mercury sq r Neptune 0°04'
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°14'
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°31'

[Jim Eshelman]

Feb 21, 2023, 8:53:07 AM PST, home
Benefic = 1, Malefic = 9, Change = 0, Spotlight = 7, Dignity = 8, Indignity = 5

Normally, on a Tuesday at 8:53 AM I'd be at work, but I'm off tomorrow, so this is calculated for home. (You can add natal Eris 1°44' from EP-a, which, if effective, highlights a natal Sun-Eris opposition in RA, 1°54'. but with t Jupiter conjunct r Eris. Also an enormous number of Sedna aspects.)

Impressions: I'm going to be an aff for a month. - The stuff in the SLR that matters most is all natal: It's not a particular wholesome SLR and the negatives are all on me. (High scores for Malefic, Spotlight, and Dignity are an interesting mix that, alone, seem to imply someone notoriously bad.)

r Mercury on Dsc -8°03'
r Neptune on Dsc -2°23'
----------------------------
r Sun on WP-a +0°10'
r Mars on Z +0°42'
t Jupiter on Asc +7°05'

r Mars-Neptune sq. 2°25'

Other partile aspects
t Mercury-Uranus sq 0°21'
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°37'
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°54'
r Venus-Mars sq 0°54' M
t Moon-Neptune co 0°57' M

Code: Select all

TRANSIT		NATAL			COMBINED
87 - Jupiter	100 - Sun Mars		100 - Sun Mars
70 - Uranus	98 - Neptune		98 - Neptune
66 - Venus	83 - Mercury		87 - Jupiter
50 - Moon	73 - Saturn		83 - Mercury
49 - Pluto	65 - Venus		73 - Saturn
45 - Neptune	54 - Jupiter Uranus	70 - Uranus
24 - Mars	17 - Moon		66 - Venus
14 - Mercury	6 - Pluto		50 - Moon
1 - Saturn				49 - Pluto
0 - Sun

[Veronica]

Jim said.....
"I suppose I'm rambling because, despite the things this chart got right, I'd expect something sharper and clearer from a return that had so many things THIS close."

Wow, those tech issues would have been serious road blocks for me. I am glad that you had the clarity of mind to deal with it and get things fixed without blowing a gasket! I know what you mean too about the visual of your poor lid infection, when my sinuses were infected it looked like I had huge boils under my eyes, very ugly hurtful looking and I was very happy to wear a mask to hide under when I had to go out.

I think that it did show sharp and clear though......it showed your sharpness and clarity.

[Patrick Machado]

I suppose I'm rambling because, despite the things this chart got right, I'd expect something sharper and clearer from a return that had so many things THIS close.

Thought: It's a Demi-Return. Do they tend to relatively "fail to deliver" somewhat more often than full Lunars? I've made the casual observation, from my own Lunars, that maybe, perhaps.

I should specify what I mean by "failing to deliver." I don't mean that they aren't nearly or equally as potent and descriptive as the full SLR for the time they cover (in fact, more so than the full SLR for the time they cover). What I think I mean is that they aren't as striking as they presumably would be if they were a full SLR. That may only really matter when it's a chart that seems like a very big deal: when it isn't, it's descriptive as usual and we're satisfied with it. When it is a chart that seems like a very big deal, it could be that a Demi-SLR is somewhat less likely to fully "deliver."

A hypothesis.

[Jim Eshelman]

Thought: It's a Demi-Return. Do they tend to relatively "fail to deliver" somewhat more often than full Lunars?

Not in my day-to-day experience. I'm used to them acting simply like we have two lunar returns a month, one every two weeks.

And the problem here wasn't so much that nothing happened - an eyelid infection that kept me home for cosmetic reasons plus two major devices (a computer and a phone) collapsing is an unusually busy month. My recent observation was that I could have read this just from the transiting planets and wasn't sure how all the natal planets fit (three of them within minutes of an angle BESIDES the 00' Neptune, which obviously fit).

Day-to-day experience aside, though, there is this study comparing the two:
https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1791

The conclusions from that were that there were essentially no bad charts in the entire set of test events and that, while SLRs held their own in the second half of the month at only a little weaker than the first half, the Demi-SLR scores for their fortnight were essentially the same as the SLR scores for the first half of the month.
https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php? ... 791#p11580

When, during the last half of the month, the Demi and full SLR were compared side by side, the Demi was better a little more often than the full SLR and, overall, they weren't that far apart. In the side-by-side, the full SLR was better seven times, the Demi ten times, and they were about the same three times.

https://www.solunars.com/viewtopic.php? ... 791#p11581

[SteveS]

Patrick wrote/asked:

It's a Demi-Return. Do they tend to relatively "fail to deliver" somewhat more often than full Lunars?

Patrick, I agree with Jim’s answers about the DSLR, particularly with “outstanding incidents” DSLRs. They “deliver” equally as the SLR.

[Jim Eshelman]

Thus far, the SLR has been quite effective in some undesirable ways.

Originally, yes, there were some nasty snarks in my behavior. Even though on a primarily carb-free diet, I started showing behaviors that seemed what I'd expect if blood sugar were on a roller-coaster, primarily cranky moods, being horribly bothered by being interrupted, being blind-sided by how fast hunger came on. After a few days, though, I realized I was sick: Almost this entire fortnight, I've had what began as a sinus infection and spread into a more general virus. I was home from work for about a week. Both Marion and I were sick (she worse than I) and we suspect it was a new round of C19 even though there was never a positive test. It was, at least, a virus that hit us about as hard as full-blown C19 did the first round.

Natal Mars-Neptune - at least as bad as if it had been transiting Mars-Neptune. (The older I get, the less distinction I see between the two, though fine lines can be drawn with only a little concentration.)

I'm still not well, but I'm back at work tomorrow and holding down the office by myself for a week while the team is on other duty (working a junior lawyer retreat).

Among the non-foreground partile aspects, it's been a pretty good time for writing (Mercury-Uranus). The Moon-Neptune conjunction is consistent with the illness, though not necessary given the rest of the chart. The rest is of no particular interest. I'm not sure the ranking graph (dual needs hierarchy stuff) was of any use to me.

Feb 21, 2023, 8:53:07 AM PST, home

Impressions: I'm going to be an aff for a month. - The stuff in the SLR that matters most is all natal: It's not a particular wholesome SLR and the negatives are all on me. (High scores for Malefic, Spotlight, and Dignity are an interesting mix that, alone, seem to imply someone notoriously bad.)

r Mercury on Dsc -8°03'
r Neptune on Dsc -2°23'
----------------------------
r Sun on WP-a +0°10'
r Mars on Z +0°42'
t Jupiter on Asc +7°05'

r Mars-Neptune sq. 2°25'

[Jim Eshelman]

Mar 7, 2023, 4:02:01 PM PST, home
Benefic = 5, Malefic = 4, Change = 9, Spotlight = 0, Dignity = 0, Indignity = 4, Personal Loss = 9

Impressions: A very unpleasant chart, probably personal, sad, and abrupt. There is loss in this picture. (I just have to weather this one out at home.) Both transiting benefics are remotely background (but the benefic and malefic scores are about the same, natal Venus carrying some weight).

t Saturn on Dsc -5°13'
r Venus on IC -5°05'
----------------------------
r Pluto on Asc +0°13'
t Uranus on MC +4°16'
r Mercury on IC +8°32'
r Saturn on IC +9°45'

t Saturn sq r Venus 0°08' M
r Venus-Pluto sq 0°13'
r Mercury-Saturn co 1°13' M
t Saturn op r Pluto 2°53'

Non-foreground Partile Aspects
t Pluto op r Jupiter 0°08' M
t Mars sq r Moon 0°26' M
t Pluto op r Uranus 0°32' M
t Pluto sq r Neptune 0°45' M

[Patrick Machado]

Get well (better) soon. Hopefully the new chart's outcome will not be too disheartening.

[Jim Eshelman]

Small change: I got home just ahead of the SLR (went in early, left early) so I'll edit it for home instead of work.

[Jim Eshelman]

Mar 20, 2023, 7:38:58 PM PST, home
Benefic = 8, Malefic = 8, Change = 4, Spotlight = 3, Dignity = 9, Indignity = 6

Impressions: (Some SSR echoes.) Based on the aspects, it seems quite positive. Given the natal Mars emphasis, it seems a competitive victory, an overt triumph over an opponent; and the exact natal Neptune does not make me happy given recent experiences. So: aspects really good, angularities otherwise. (t Eris on Dsc 0°57')

t Pluto on IC -7°23'
r Jupiter on MC -5°46'
r Uranus on MC -5°32'
r Mars on IC -1°27'
r Neptune on EP-a -0°16'
-----------------------------
r Sun on Asc +3°20'
t Jupiter on Dsc +4°32'

r Jupiter-Uranus co 0°14'
r Uranus-Neptune sq 0°27' M
r Jupiter-Neptune sq 0°41' M
t Jupiter op r Sun 1°00'
t Pluto op r Jupiter 1°17'
t Pluto op r Uranus 1°34'
t Pluto sq r Neptune 2°19'
r Mars-Neptune sq 2°25'