"Saturn Chasing the Moon" and Lemony Snicket

I was reading a book by Celeste Teal, Predicting Events with Astrology, and came across a section entitled "Saturn Chasing the Moon". Essentially, this phenomena occurs when Saturn is transiting the secondary progressed Moon. Because the secondary progressed Moon and transiting Saturn move at approximately the same pace, this transit can last for years. Transiting Saturn acts to test, re-organize, make accountable, and crystallize the planets it transits, as well as the house that it transits. I have had Saturn chasing the Moon for some years, and will for many years to come, as transiting Saturn is conjuncting my progressed Moon. It is following my progressed Moon, so to speak, through the houses. In her book, Celeste Teal points out that this phenomena can also occur when transiting Saturn squares, opposes, trines, or sextiles the progressed Moon as well. Under normal circumstances, when Saturn transits a point, it can last a few months or close to a year. However, with the progressed Moon involved, it can last years, and even decades.
On the same day that I read about Saturn chasing the Moon, I went to see the movie, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which is a black comedy, of sorts, for kids (teens) about the Beaudelaire orphans, based on the children's book series. After the children's wealthy parents die in a fire, the children are passed from one guardian to the next, and are chased by a most sinister man, Count Olaf, who is after the Beaudelaire fortune. The adults in their world are rather inept, never quite believing these bright and inventive children. The series tells the story of the children's misadventures, one after another. From time to time, there are brief reprieves for the children. Each child possesses a special talent, and their individual strengths combine in such a way as to get them out of difficult situations, albeit only to find themselves in the middle of another "unfortunate" circumstance.
The basic message of the movie is that even when faced with a seemingly relentless "series of unfortunate events", there is strength to gain, and "sanctuaries" to be found. The children find strength in each other and the bond between them.
Interestingly, I went to see Lemony Snicket with a friend who is also experiencing "Saturn chasing the Moon" through an opposition aspect. She had mentioned to me some time ago that she feels like her life isn't going anywhere—that small progresses happen from time to time, but then she encounters setbacks. Instead of "two steps forward, one step back", she feels like her life is more on the lines of "one step forward, one step back" and, at times, "one step forward, two steps back". We both loved Lemony Snicket, which is filled with humor, dark humor mostly (Saturnine humor). If you have experienced the particular brand of humor that a person with prominent Saturn possesses, you will understand what I mean. As is often the case with comedies, the extremes and larger-than-life events depicted allow us to laugh at ourselves.
After enjoying the movie, of course, I couldn't help but see some of the parallels, having just read about the "Saturn chasing the Moon" condition. As Saturn moves from direct to retrograde and back to direct motion again, it effectively moves away from the aspect (offering some sort of reprieve) but then Saturn and the progressed Moon align once again. Those experiencing this astrological configuration will not face the sort of tragedies that the Beaudelaire children face! However, little setbacks may seem relentless, perhaps until the person involved understands the nature of transiting Saturn and works with instead of against the energy. Generally, when we first experience a Saturn transit to our personal points and houses in our natal charts, we may feel thwarted and unsupported by the outside world—even criticized, harassed, and beleaguered—in the particular areas of life ruled by the house and the parts of our personalities ruled by the transited planet. With time, we learn to look within ourselves for support. We learn about our own strengths. We find "sanctuaries". Saturn never offers us lessons that we are not already equipped to learn. The Beaudelaire children encounter unfortunate circumstances, and they draw upon their individual talents and strengths in order to overcome them. Perhaps without these circumstances, they would not put their talents to use. Klaus Beaudelaire, for example, is a voracious reader who not only loves to learn, he remembers everything he learns. When faced with a difficult situation, he calls upon that knowledge and applies it, with the help of his older sister, Violet, who has an especially inventive mind. Anyone studying astrology will see some parallels between the story and the astrology of trines and sextiles (talents) and the challenges of the "difficult" aspects and transits. Difficult circumstances force us to discover and draw upon our inner strengths and talents.

Moon-Pluto

Recently, I received a review copy of a fascinating book, The Astrology of Film. (It's fantastic, by the way, and a review on CafeAstrology.com is coming soon). Before that, I had stumbled upon an online article written by one of the editors of the book, Bill Streett (he also wrote some of the essays in the book). After finding more of his articles on his web site, I found myself impressed with his research and explorations of the archetypes of planets through pop culture, and his gifted writing ability.
I was initially attracted to his Sun-Uranus article (which is actually only a portion of a larger essay entitled The Astrological Sun and the Outer Planets) for personal reasons, as I have a tight conjunction of Sun and Uranus in my natal chart. When I found his articles about music and astrology, I was floored. In one essay, he explores themes of Moon-Pluto natal combinations through songs by musicians with that combination in their natal charts. I have always been strongly attracted to certain types of music, feeling a tremendous need for it in my life. It sounds melodramatic, but I remember telling more than one person growing up that I don't just like the music I listen to, I need it—how could I survive without it? The need for the music I listen to feels very basic and primal to me. After I had had a serious accident, for example, family members were trying hard to convince me to stay in the hospital a little longer, but I was adamant that I would heal faster if I could go home and surround myself with the things I was familiar with, including plenty of music. Streett's article reminded me that it is more than likely the Moon-Pluto aspect in my own chart that makes me feel the need for emotional release through cathartic, evocative, and emotionally powerful music.

Love and Money...

A couple of years ago, I picked up a copy of Magi Astrology the Key to Success In Love and Money. I will pretty much read anything "astrology", except for sun sign manuals. I am always eager to explore new techniques, especially in the field of relationship astrology. Later, I discovered the Magi Astrology web site. This society makes a lot of claims, and I personally find the tone of both the book and the site rather patronizing. However, I like the fact that they push aspects in declinations (parallels and contra-parallels) as extremely important both in synastry and natal astrology. Every once in a while, I put some of the theories to test in my own files. One of their articles asserts that Juno is not about marriage. Instead, it is said to be about sex without commitment. I am busy checking into that whole idea these days...

Psychic?

I have received a number of emails from people who were in a bit of a panic regarding a "psychic reading" they had had. The reading was strikingly similar for different people, saying that positive things would come about BUT "you must be in the right place at the right time" during a period of "56 days". In order to know the right place and right time, the "psychic" suggests contacting someone "competent" (perhaps her?). She often refers to the period of 56 days as a "period which is composed of 2 moons" or "two favorable moon configurations". Note that very similar readings are given to multiple people...be wary.

AstroFaces

There is an interesting site on the web called AstroFaces. This site assembles photographs of people and groups them according to their Sun, Moon, and Ascendant signs. Anyone can contribute a photo to the project—obviously, the more the better, although it would be best if those contributing pictures are very certain of their birth time. The photos are sorted in different ways, and one page on the site shows photos of people who have their Sun, Moon, and Ascendant in the same sign. Very interesting!