The Storyteller's Night Sky

The first New Moon of the New Year happens this week, overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, but not before shedding its old light into the lap of love as a way to make ready for what lies ahead.

The poet died in 1321, 700 years ago this year, and just one year after completing his magnum opus "The Divine Comedy," each canticle of which ends with the word "stars."

As 2020 comes to its grand finale, I'm looking back at the planetary culminations beyond the Great Conjunction, and that includes what Venus did six months ago in June.

By Friday this week we’ll all be able to look back with hindsight on 2020, and in the world of the Storyteller’s Night Sky, that means looking at what the planets and stars have been up to.

It’s the still time of the year. Sun and Moon have had their last meeting and it was exact, causing a total solar eclipse. Jupiter and Saturn come to their great conjunction, and it's exact, their closest approach in the last 400 years

The moment of Winter Solstice arrives 12.21 with a great conjunction of planets that's like a divine clue.

The biggest news this month is the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn that comes at Winter Solstice, but we shouldn’t overlook next week’s Total Solar Eclipse, even though it won’t be visible to us in North America. The mystery of this eclipse at this time is still important in the unfolding narrative of 2020, which is now in its final chapter.

There was an eclipse in the early hours of this Monday morning, when the Moon came to Full Phase among the stars of Taurus and slipped into the outer edge of Earth’s shadow, which begs the question astrologically: which is easier to deal with, a full shadow, like at total eclipse; or the barest hint of shadow, like this one?

Venus and Spica grace the dawn with love and abundance this week of our reaping what we have sown.

There are three active meteor showers remaining for 2020, bringing the magic of more celestial light to the sky while greater darkness settles in across the northern hemisphere.

In the medieval legend of Parzival, the hero comes to be known as the Red Knight, so this week, we’ll consider him Mars. He also has several significant encounters with his cousin, Sigune, whom we’ll consider Venus. This week, the two of them are dramatically opposed in the starry heaven.

The Moon is carving an interesting path through the sky this week, calling to mind a significant event in history, both in the Christian world and in the world of astronomy. 

With a Blue Moon at Halloween, followed by a Friday the 13th next month and a Total Solar Eclipse after that, it’s time to take a look at cultural superstitions in relation to the stars.

The meteor shower of the giant Orion peaks overnight this week, especially in the early morning hours of October 21st, so let’s take a look at what’s tucked in here.

From my seasonal article for Northern Express news magazine

This episode is from the recent archives, but contains engaging imaginations about the course of Moon and Sun after Autumn Equinox each year. Full audio and video at my website www.storytellersnightsky.com

Each month until the end of the year, the waning crescent Moon sweeps past Venus in the morning sky~ time to cast poetry and flower petals to the dawn as a way to prepare for the goddess of love and beauty when she's unveiled at eclipse. 

On Tuesday the planet Mars will be closer to us than it will be for another 15 years, so the question is: will we be inspired by the red planet’s genius or its demon?

The Harvest Moon rises Thursday, October 1st, and this year, it’s the first Full Moon of Autumn, and the first to appear above the celestial equator. This matters for us in the Northern Hemisphere because it means that from now until Spring, we will experience more moonlight than sunlight.

The third and final of three ten-minute episodes on Equinox 2020 ~what's in store for us with Harvest Moon, Mars opposition, Blue Moon and the Great Conjunction of Jupiter with Saturn?

In this second of three ten-minute sessions I explain the fire trine happening at Equinox. If you would like to see the video component, visit my website  at www.storytellersnightsky.com

In this first of three ten-minute episodes, I share the cosmic picture of where we've been and what it can mean for Equinox 2020

The waxing crescent Moon is in the sign of Sagittarius at Equinox 2020, forming a trine to both Venus and to Mars, while each of them  occupy what are known as the “fire signs” of the zodiac. 

Audio-only recording of my online webinar regarding Summer's last New Moon September 17, 2020 and our engagement with the elemental forces, by the light of the Moon. Full program with video at my website www.storytellersnightsky.com

The Hebrew, Chinese, and Arabic calendars all observe New Year in harmony with the rhythm of the New Moon, while the Gregorian calendar is rooted in the rhythm of the Sun.