Author's Introduction
This is the text of an article I wrote, many years ago, for the now-defunct CAO-Times, published by Al H. Morrison. I was going through some old papers and rediscovered it, so I thought I would share it with you all.
LUNATION SENSITIVITY
by Zane Stein
There are many disagreements among different schools of astrological thought about what to use and what not to use. For example, some astrologers do away with houses entirely, while others swear by a particular house system. But one tool almost every astrologer utilizes is the aspect. And although there are even disagreements over which aspects are important, there are a few selected aspects which are almost universally accepted.
Many books have been written detailing the natures of these specific aspects - conjunction, square and opposition - so this article will not begin to try to explain their natures.
Instead, I would like to draw your attention to a particular facet of these aspects, which comes into play only when they exist with wide orbs. I call this facet "Lunation Sensitivity," and I hope my reasons will become clear to you as you read on.
Actual allowable orbs for aspects is another area of contention among astrologers. But most people will agree that a conjunction, square or opposition in a natal chart is still effective within an orb of 6, 7 or 8 degrees. So when interpreting a chart, an aspect with a 6 or 8 degree orb is usually judged as simply that, and nothing more. But it is much more.
Take a look at any ephemeris, for any month of any year. Look at the first lunation that month - a new, or full moon. It doesn't really matter what, for our discussion.
Next, look about a week later, at the quarter moon (first or third quarter.) Notice how apart, by degrees, the quarter moon is from the lunation. Now, look another week, to the next lunation, and notice the distance from the quarter moon.
You may carry this on for as many weeks as you wish, but you will soon discover that the distance averages out to around 7 degrees. It may be over 8 degrees, or almost as little as 6, but it will always be within this range. And this directly relates to the natal aspects mentioned above.
The easiest way to show how this relates is with a specific example. So let us take four planets in the chart of a friend of mine named John.
John has Mercury at 24 Taurus, seven degrees from Venus at Gemini, so conjunct. His Moon is 8.25 Sagittarius, so it is opposed to his Venus with a 7-1/4 degree orb. And his Mars, at 15-1/2 Pisces, squares his Moon with a similar orb.
John recently went through a very eventful month. On May 14, the New Moon at 23 Taurus 50 activated his Mercury. A week later, the first quarter was at 0 Virgo 52, squaring his Venus. The following week, the Full Moon was 8 Sagittarius 38, right on his Moon. And then the third quarter was at 15 Pisces 33, smacking his Mars.
Thus, conjunctions, squares and oppositions with 6-8 degree orbs are much more than simple aspects. An astrologer, finding such an aspect, will automatically know that such a person is destined to receive multiple aspects, so that the planets are intimately involved in a series of events. And the more planets which are involved in such a series, the more complicated the pattern of events to come into a person's life.
What is more, a particular lunation occurs at approximately the same degree ever nineteen years, so the person's sensitivity to a particular set of sun/moon aspects stays with him all his life.
Therefore, someone with any planets or sensitive points at these aspects with 6-8 degree orbs is Lunation Sensitive. The conjunction, or other aspect, takes on the special significance of symbolizing a series of events - the two planets are separate yet connected (unlike a close aspect, where the planets are triggered by transits almost simultaneously, and thus lose their separateness.)
Another facet of this particular aspect relates to progressions - of the "degree per year" variety. Should a progressed planet aspect one of these bodies, it will aspect another in the series approximately seven years later. While this is going on, (transiting) Saturn will move approximately ninety degrees. So Saturn after seven years will square itself, and re-aspect any planets it was aspecting at the first progressed aspect. As Saturn is often called the polar opposite of the Moon (ruling Capricorn, while the Moon rules Cancer), it is fitting that the Moon activates at seven-day periods - Saturn at seven-year periods.
It would be very interesting to take up a thorough study, to see if any specific personality differences exist between people with Lunation Sensitivity and those without it. This is only a hypothesis, but I would expect that those who are Lunation Sensitive would always expect another event to happen to them after an even just passed - they would see life as a series of interrelated occurrences. On the other hand, others not Lunation Sensitive would tend to see each event as more isolated, and would be able to see it more thoroughly.
To sum up, I would also like to say that there is a lesser Lunation Sensitivity in individuals with aspects of around 14 degrees (e.g., New Moon to Full Moon.) But here the connection between the events is usually less evident.
The key factor here is that, when a lunation occurs, the person can expect the event to be part of a much larger picture. So the astrologer should take special notice of this aspect.
Copyright 1996 © by Zane B. Stein. Republished here by permission of the author.
1649 Andalusia Way, San Jose, Ca 95125
zstein@ix.netcom.com
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