The Evolution of Human Consciousness

Interpretation of Synodic Cycles of Long Duration

Using 'An Astrological Mandala' by Dane Rudhyar

Dane Rudhyar, 1895-1985, is considered by many to be the most profound astrologer of the twentieth century. In 1973, he published 'An Astrological Mandala', a book focusing on the meaning of each of the 360 degrees in the zodiac. The symbols were originally developed by astrologer Marc Edmund Jones with the help of Elsie Wheeler - a psychic who channeled the symbol images. Rudhyar reinterpreted them and formulated the process of evolution of consciousness.

There are many factors that can be used in the interpretation of cycles and their correlation to processes and events in human history. This project focuses on three of those factors: the conjunction of planets, the time of the conjunction, and the duration of the synodic cycles.

The conjunction is the degree, minute, second of zodiacal longitude in which two planets come together. This point of syzygy is illustrated with a Sabian symbol and commentary by Dane Rudhyar. The time of the event is the day, month, year, hour and minute. This time allows the calculation of precise planetary positions which can be used for many other factors of interpretation. Between the time of a conjunction of two planets and the time they conjoin again is the duration of the cycle.

This project focuses on the Sabian symbol of the conjunction degree as setting the tone of the cycle. The outer planets' cycles have durations spanning decades, centuries, even longer than a millenium. These represent the evolutionary forces operating within the entire human race over generations.

It was discovered, after two months into the research phase of this project, that the work on it had begun at the conjuction of Mars and Quaoar on 15 January 2005 (at 14°Sag 26'). As the zodiac starts at 0° 0' 0" - the first degree; the Sabian symbol for this cycle of a two year period is Sagittarius 15 click to view the text of the symbol.

Conjunctions of the outer planets, Saturn through Pluto, including the first discovered Centaur, Chiron, and the transneptunian Quaoar have been calculated for the entire 20th century and listed on this site. These can be a great addition to the tools of interpretation of individuals' natal charts. Knowing the tones of the cycles that one was born into can produce awesome insights.

It is beyond the scope of this website to reproduce the text of the Sabian symbols for all of the conjunctions which are listed. The abridged text of a few symbols are included for examples. The book AN ASTROLOGICAL MANDALA has been available at several online bookstores.

Synodic Cycles Of Planets

SIDEREAL versus SYNODIC

A Sidereal Cycle measures a moving object in relation to a fixed background, and begins when the object crosses a particular point. The word sidereal derives from the Latin word for star, reflecting our perception of the star-filled heavens as fixed. Our diurnal cycle and yearly cycle are prime examples of sidereal cycles.

Our yearly cycle is defined by the four seasons, which shift at the equinoxes and the solstices. While actually measuring one revolution of the Earth around the Sun, our geocentric perspective of the year is defined by the passing of the Sun through the twelve fixed sections of the ecliptic that we call the zodiacal signs. The zodiacal year begins when the Sun crosses the first degree of Aries, while the Sun entering each of the cardinal signs denotes the solstices and equinoxes, when the day/night ratio is the most extreme or most equally balanced, and thus marks the turning points of our seasons.

The Greek term synodic refers to astronomical conjunctions. The Synodic Cycle measures the continually changing relationship between two moving bodies. The stunning visuals of the lunation cycle clearly reveal the mutable relationship between the Sun and Moon, which Rudhyar perceived as the model for understanding all planetary aspects.

A Synodic Cycle begins at the conjunction and ends at the next conjunction. Thus, the New Moon, the moment of the Moon's conjunction with the Sun, begins the new cycle of activity, and the Full Moon, at their opposition, marks the half-way point.

This information was excerpted from an article in the Mountain Astrologer. The extensive article about cycles may be viewed in its entirety online at: http://www.beyondsunsigns.com/pages/861718/