The nakshatra most closely symbolic of crocodiles is Shatabhisha. The birth chart of Steve Irwin, the famous “Crocodile Hunter,” has significant placements in Shatabhisha nakshatra—his Sun, Venus, IC, Chiron, & Eros. Accordingly, he is famous for his extensive conservation work and affinity with crocodiles.
With his (tropical) exalted Pisces Venus + asteroid Eros here, we can see how he developed a reputation for being loving toward wild beasts & driven about creating treaties to protect them. Venus is the planet of beauty, harmony, and contracts, while Eros is the asteroid of passionate creativity. I might argue that his nickname should have been “Crocodile Lover” instead!
~Why is Shatabhisha associated with the crocodile?~
The resident deity of this nakshatra is Varuna, whose domain includes the Waters, Sky, and Ocean. The associated animal that carries Varuna is the Makara, a mythological beast whose name means “sea-creature” or “crocodile” in Sanskrit.
Makara is also the animal that represents the sign of Capricorn. Steve Irwin is a (tropical) Capricorn rising. His ascendant (aka lagna) is located in the nakshatra of Mula (the one who breaks things down to get to the root of the truth). Steve Irwin broke through the vilifying, monstrous media depictions of crocodiles to spread a more appreciative and honest portrayal of this fearsome creature.
If you use the sidereal zodiac, Steve Irwin still has an impressive set of Capricorn placements. His Capricorn stellium (collection of 3+ planets in a single sign) features a whopping 5 grahas, including his Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Ketu.
As an astrology geek, I have a fond love-hate relationship with this episode. Let me count the ways!
The synopsis: Scully and Mulder go to a small town where high school students are being viscerally killed, and the town is amok with Satanic Panic as they seek answers. The culprits are actually two teenage besties who have witchy electro-telekinetic powers, being strongly influenced by a “rare planetary alignment,” a triple conjunction between Mercury (pairs, friends), Mars (aggression, blood), and Uranus (upheaval, electricity).
Meanwhile, Mulder and Scully get downright vitriolic during the investigation, as Scully is acting uncharacteristically jealous of Mulder’s flirtations with another detective. Various characters also engage in out-of-character stress behavior, like Scully smoking cigarettes and Mulder drinking alcohol.
Note: This episode is set during the day of January 12, 1996 and deals with the non-exact triple conjunction of Uranus, Mercury (retrograde), and Mars, all in Aquarius. Here’s the chart for the event:
What I Love:
The fact that they even tackled astrology as a concept, AND the writers took care to reference a real astrological alignment that would be happening in their then-present day (the episode was released in 1996, about two weeks after the alignment took place IRL)
The fact that Mulder goes to see an astrologer in the episode to ask what’s going on, and her credentials are never called into question
The fact that they avoided stereotypes with her characterization: she’s a very ordinary-looking lady who cracks a joke about being a small business owner with a lot of paperwork and makes sure Mulder pays up before she gives him the information he’s seeking
I also appreciate that they made her someone who believes in her own craft, avoiding the cheap trope that many TV shows resort to where they have the professional psychic or occultist privately disavow their own practice and claim they’re just telling people what they want to hear, or have the protagonists regard or reveal the person as a scammer
The fact that the two teen witches who are the main antagonists of the episode were born on the same date, at the same time, in the same place (!!), which would certainly create the perfect storm of torrid synastry that we see in the episode
The little concluding speech Mulder gives about humans being subject to cosmic whims and forces far outside our control, whether we like to admit it or not
What I Hate: Okay, so all these hater points are mostly minor nitpicks. Forgive me, for I have Mercury in Virgo and thus I seek perfection even in the smallest of details 🤓
When the astrologer mentions that Uranus is sitting “in the house of Aquarius.” Technically the zodiac signs CAN be classified as the dwelling-places of certain planets (hence where the traditional astrology concept of “domicile” = “in its own home” comes from). But most astrologers would probably say that Uranus was sitting in the sign of Aquarius, saving the term “houses” to refer to the 12-fold divisions of the sky which are modeled in a chart
The fact that they show a Full Moon in the sky at the end of the episode, but the date in question IRL would have had a waning crescent moon
The astrologer said the planets would be moving into exact alignment on that day, but Mercury, Mars, and Uranus were never partile conjunct during this event (and at least for me, an exact alignment implies that they would all be at the same degree, though I admit they were quite close)
The fact that the astrologer DIDN’T mention that Uranus would have been mega-powerful in this triple conjunction because it had literally JUST ingressed back into Aquarius (returning from a retrograde dip into Capricorn) on the EXACT date that the episode is set on, and sign changes for the slow outer planets herald massive shifts in the world
Other than these little quibbles, I’m quite pleased by the way this episode used astrology as a plot point 🙂
Bonus: here’s the un-timed chart for the date the episode was released, January 26, 1996, wherein the Sun and Mercury have basically swapped zodiacal degrees in the interim between the two charts, and the Moon of the episode release has shifted to the opposite sign from the Syzygy event
This week’s forecast is late because I’ve been busy, but I still wanted to share some thoughts, since this is a momentous time of shifting energies!
The theme for this week is MUTATION OF PLEASURE. We’re in the last week of mutable Sagittarius season.
Jupiter cannonballs into Aries for good, leaving behind its home sign of Pisces (not to return for another 11 years). The very next day, the Sun shifts into winter mode with the Capricorn Ingress of December 21 The Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere is the longest day of the year, a celebration of the peak of sunlight’s increase and a pivot toward the decreasing of the light in preparation of the autumn harvest. The Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the shortest day of the year, a celebration of the end of sunlight’s decrease and a pivot toward the increasing of the light in preparation of a new spring.
Here’s a little solstice ritual you can try:
Solstice Gratitude Rituals: FEAST! CRY! BE MERRY! REST! INDULGE! Make a Gratitude List 1. Write down 3, 5, 10 (or however many you like) endings, peaks, or culminations from the past 6-12 months that you are grateful for 2. Write down an equal number of beginnings, potentials, or hopes you are grateful for
Weekly Forecast: Immediately upon ingress, the Sun squares Jupiter. Projects that may have felt stagnant could be revitalized, and the desire to jump the gun may be prominent. It’s a great time to celebrate, but don’t feel the need to accomplish all your plans at once–Mercury is about to station retrograde on December 29th, and things will need to be reworked.
Right as Jupiter enters Aries, Venus comes out of the underworld, no longer hidden by the beams of the sun, and enters her phase as evening star, bringing us into a closer relationship with our own bodies and desires. Venus in her nightly guise is associated with Taurus, the verdant, lush, sensory pleasures of the earthly realm. This association is immediately punctuated by an enlivening trine to Uranus in Taurus, which may bring the opportunity for revelry.
Venus in Capricorn speaks to the ability to trust in one’s self to party when it is, in fact, the appropriate time to party. If we tend to be restrained or fear our own desires, this might be the shock that nudges us into letting down our hair just a little bit–evening star Venus beckons us to explore the siren song of our own desire, telling us that it is not sinful or excessive to crave pleasure. It is, in fact, life-affirming and deeply meaningful to do that which gives the body joy.
Realizations about pleasure this week can be meditated upon in preparation for New Year’s Eve, when Venus will flirt with the underworld for another brief moment as she conjoins Pluto in Capricorn. Deeper long term shifts in the way we navigate pleasure and power can be expected–this could manifest in a myriad of ways. One person may focus on setting firmer boundaries about the distribution of household chores, while another dedicates themselves to taking a period of personal celibacy, and yet another comes to a decision to start exploring BDSM dynamics in their sexual life.
Notable Transits of the week: (Fri 12/16) Last Quarter Moon in Libra (Sat 12/17) Mercury trine Uranus (Sun 12/18) Moon into Scorpio (Mon 12/19) (Tue 12/20) Jupiter enters Aries, now answers to Mars rx in Gemini Venus reappears as Evening Star Moon into Sagittarius, answers to freshly ingressed Jupiter in Aries (Wed 12/21) December Solstice Sun into Capricorn Sun square Jupiter (Thu 12/22) Venus trine Uranus Moon into Capricorn
Coming future: (Fri 12/23) New Moon in Capricorn kicks off Capricorn season (Thu 12/29) Mercury turns Retrograde in Capricorn (Sat 12/31) Venus conjunct Pluto in Capricorn
background: typewriter surrounded by desk plants, image by Shelby Miller via Unsplash, edited on Canva
Recent Past: Think back to what you were starting around October of 2021. This is when the Sun-Mars synodic cycle began anew with a Sun-Mars “new moon” (a conjunction joined by Mercury retrograde) in the sign of Libra, under the oversight of a fiery Sagittarius Venus conjunct Ketu, the South Node. We may have gone back to re-explore a passion or connection that had come fleeting through our life, choosing to give it a second go around.
Wednesday’s Full Moon in Gemini coincided with the “full moon” of the Sun-Mars cycle, with the Sun now taking Venus’s place in Sagittarius and Mars retrograde trining its original location, while in Mercury’s sign. Whatever you started back in October 2021 will have reached (or will soon be reaching) the peak of its illumination, revealing to you whether this re-exploration yielded fruitful results or not.
Perhaps you’ll have discovered that the passion or connection is indeed, everything that you used to ponder and long for. Or perhaps you’ll have learned that it was fun while it lasted, but you’d rather make room for something (or someone) else going forward. Either way, the wisdom of the Sagittarius-Gemini axis says that time is never wasted upon exploration; there is always precious insight to be gained, if we are curious enough to seek it.
Fri 12/09-Sat 12/10: the mood is still coming down from the electric charge of the Gemini Full Moon / Sun opposite Mars, and we may feel inclined to be more reserved about our words (especially if verbal disputes have been had) as Venus waltzes into dignified, recalcitrant Capricorn 💅
the Moon lounges in Cancer until Sunday morning, so weekend plans will tend toward solo time or cozying up with people we consider as part of our inner circle. take some time to indulge in a little treat (i’ll be doing hot apple cider spiced with cinnamon & cardamom) and reflect about your dreams for the future ☁️
Sun 12/11-Mon 12/12: the Moon enters Leo midday Sunday, shifting our focus from reflection to expression. some dreams can be kept in our heads (for now), but others need their time in the sun! ☀️
Mercury, lady of handsy crafts, makes a creative quintile to artsy queen Neptune while curious Mars rx quintiles fruitful Jupiter—if there’s a project you’ve wanted to create (paint, draw, bake, build, write, whittle, etc.), this is a wonderful time to track down the tools needed to make it happen 📐
Tue 12/13-Wed 12/14: the Sun and Neptune exchange heated glances as Mercury makes a sneaky phone call to gossip with the Sun, giving us a moment to connect the dots about whether our dreams and actions will be ready to align once the Sun enters Capricorn next week 🧮
if there’s still something that looks iffy, Wednesday’s disseminating Moon in Virgo can help us find the wisdom to refine and optimize our visions. sometimes that means flipping the hourglass to give ourselves more time! ⏳
Thu 12/15: the Moon rounds out her stay in Virgo with a voluptuous Grand Trine to Mercury in Capricorn and Rahu/Uranus in Taurus. entering the last quarter phase, Luna asks us to clear out the thoughts that bind us and embrace the empty state of mind that is necessary before creation can take place ⚫️
the day ends with a Moon-Neptune opposition t-squaring the Sun in Sagittarius, who has now been secretly gossiping with Venus in Capricorn. we may be pleased to find that our hopes and wishes (which formerly seemed out of reach) are forming a tangible path to materialize in the real world 🪡
In the Long Run: The next turning point in the Sun-Mars cycle will come at the “third quarter” phase of the Sun-Mars square around March 16, 2023. Mars (now moving forward) will be taking her final run through the last ten degrees of Gemini, almost out of the retrograde shadow degrees. The Sun in Pisces will be conjunct Neptune and Mercury, who is still Mars’s host while she traverses Gemini. Expect to still be processing and digesting the lessons of the current week, in some form or another, until this time, when we will finally see the first breath of integration and release.
Simultaneously, Venus in Aries will square Pluto at the tail end of Capricorn, a mere week before Pluto takes its first tentative leap into Aquarius, where it will spend the better part of the next two decades. This Venus will be at 29° Aries, opposite the point of the Sun-Venus initiatory cazimi in Libra that took place around October 22, 2022. This moment may serve as a severing from our entrenched Self-Other power dynamics of the past, struggling to assert the way we want to love and be loved going forward (whether that be familially, platonically, romantically, intellectually, sensually, erotically, or however relational dynamics appear in your life).
image of two tennis rackets volleying a tennis ball across a net (made with Canva)
Recent Past: this week’s Mercury and Venus oppositions with Mars retrograde may have seen words flying as our thoughts volleyed against the realities of action, and the pursuit of pleasure bounced off the walls of discomfort & planning required for long-term gains 🎾
first steps may have been taken and reviewed during the weekend’s Capricorn and Aquarius moons (both signs ruled by Saturn, the planet of concrete action, who has been trine Mars rx all week). plans may have been revised and reformulated. if you haven’t been able to start anything yet, worry not—we’re still in the waxing (growing) phase of the moon cycle for the next few days 😉
Fri 12/02-Sat 12/03: our weekend starts off with a spicy waxing gibbous Moon in Aries, ready to light some fireworks as it passes through encouraging trines with the Sun, Venus, and Mercury in Sagittarius. take some time to let loose and have fun—chasing enjoyment can teach you just as much as getting work done 🕺🏽
on Saturday morning, the Moon will re-activate last week’s Mars rx-Saturn trine by waving a saucy sextile hello to both of them (from the midpoint between the ends of the trine). hazy Neptune, planet of dreams, inspiration, mystery, and illusions, switches from retrograde to forward movement, just in time to perfect a tense frisson with Venus, patroness of art, harmony, and relationships. let your curious mind guide you toward inspired action. put yourself out there, share your vision, and show others what you really want 📍
Sun 12/04-Mon 12/05: the waxing gibbous Moon in Taurus provides an opportunity to dig our heels into the dirt and really make room in our garden—is there anything that still needs to be weeded out? Are we adequately watering the seeds we want to grow? 🌱
Last week’s uncomfortable Moon-Uranus/Rahu connection is re-activated by Mercury and Venus—if we have tangled with our fear of audacity since then, now is the time speak up. Mercury in Sagittarius makes a square to Jupiter, whose home they are currently traversing. Be steady and blunt as you vocalize the things you desire—you may find that others receive your honesty in surprising ways 🫣
Tue 12/06-Wed 12/07: The waxing phase reaches its culmination as the Moon enters Gemini. Shortly thereafter, Gemini’s manager, Mercury, leaves Jupiter’s warm lecture hall of Sagittarius to enter Saturn’s stony lighthouse of Capricorn. Whatever we’ve been theorizing and debating about ? it’s about to be put to test in the field—is it ready to withstand the crashing waves? Only one way to find out 🌊
Wednesday evening (20:09 PST) hosts the Full Moon in Gemini with the Moon exactly conjunct Mars rx. The orchestra reaches a crescendo, the bell tower rings, and you can hear the Greek choir swell up (whether it’s a comedy or a tragedy is up to you) as a path is illuminated in your Gemini house. Everything you’ve been working and reworking since August 20, 2022 suddenly clicks into place, and your way forward becomes clear to you 🛤
Thu 12/08: the Moon spends most of the day in Gemini, finishing out the revelations of whatever has been realized. as she opposes Venus, we might get too worked up in the frenzy of renewed desire—make time for quiet moments to catch your breath 🌬
at the end of the day, after all the excitement of the Gemini/Sagittarius axis, Luna retires to her home sign of Cancer to exhale into the salty sea air, where she begins to oppose Mercury. We’ll want to take a moment to return to our shells and process what we have learned—let your feelings about the situation speak to you. Consider journaling, singing, or making music to help melt into some relaxation 🦀
In the Long Run: the fun flirty Sag lightning in the sky begins to wind down as Venus enters earthy Capricorn, followed by the Sun two weeks later. however, we won’t be totally bereft of fire—just in time for the Winter Solstice, Jupiter says goodbye to its watery home sauna of Pisces for the next 12 years, and brings forth a hot cosmic spring as it returns to Aries, the scorched battlefield of Mars 🪓
Our ideas and philosophies will undergo a revolutionary rebirth in ways that have already been gestating since earlier this year, when Jupiter took its first plunge into Aries. However, this time, we have the drive and courage to follow through on the Big Bang we’ve been hoping for 💥
Welcome to the intriguing world of astrology dice!
In this guide we will outline the basics of how to use the dice, what kinds of questions you can ask, and how to interpret the symbols in the context of your questions. [This page will be updated from time to time as I refine my understanding of how to better use and explain the dice.]
How to Ask Questions: Good divination starts with asking the proper kind of question for the method you’re using. These dice are relatively simple; they can only give you 12×12×12 possible answers. [Compare this to a three card tarot spread, which has 72×71×70 possible answers if using a standard deck]. So, start off by testing simple questions at first! You can always get more complex as you get to know the dice.
What Makes a Good Question?: The best questions will be specific, timely, and immediately relevant to the life of the person asking. Try to ask about yourself and things relevant to your own life rather than asking about other people’s lives (unless of course the other person is with you, or asking about themselves). Questions around choices are often a good bet, such as in the format of “if I do [X], will I feel [Y]?”
Examples of Good Questions:
If I go to the party, will I have a good time?
Why am I having a hard time talking to my friend lately?
If I accept this job offer, will I be bored at the new workplace?
I keep seeing people dye their hair this trendy new color. Would I like it on myself?
Would I be more satisfied if I started learning how to play piano?
Examples of Iffy Questions (too broad, too vague, or just not right for the dice):
Will I ever get married?
Would my friend be happier doing a different job?
Do aliens exist?
What is the meaning of life?
Does my partner love me?
Will I ever find my purpose?
What’s the deal with airline food?
About the Dice: Your set contains three different 12-sided die: one with the symbols of the 12 core astrological planets/points, one with the 12 zodiac signs, and one simply numbered 1-12 to represent the 12 astrological houses.
How to Read the Symbols: If all the world’s a stage, Planets are the Actors in the show, Zodiac Signs are the Roles/Costumes they take on, and Houses are the Stage/Setting upon which they perform. So, read the dice response as [Planet A] in [Sign B] in [House C].
The Planets and their Symbols:
☉ = Sun (the spirit, ego, personality, purpose, life direction, consciousness, authority, individuality, control, ambition, radiance, tyranny, dominance)
☽ = Moon (the mind, habits, comfort, moods, intuition, instinct, the body, desires, drives, emotions, feelings, cravings, needs, history, wilderness)
= Pluto (image description: a full circle which is nested inside an open half-circle with a cross below it.)
The Zodiac Signs and Their Symbols:
♈︎ = Aries (initiation, action, youth, impulse, challenger, seeker, observant, courageous, contrarian, first to volunteer, crusader, stands for something, speaks up, sassy, play-fighting, butting heads, rule-breaking, forthright, blunt, brash, dissident, heretic, lighting a spark in the dark, the best defense is a good offense, first responder, creator, pioneer)
♉︎ = Taurus (reserved, steady, skeptical, tasteful, cultivating, tactile, sensory, stagnant, fragrance, perfume, comfort, investment, indulgence, equity, construction, collection, gardeners, farmers, bankers, hoarders, wine makers, curators, bodegas, beauticians, geologists, Shrek being peaceful & gross in his swamp with all his little trinkets)
♊︎ = Gemini (versatile, curious, changeable, mirroring, reflecting, collecting, mutating, multifaceted, ephemeral, hard to pin down, noncommittal, ambiguous, vague, vacillating, trivia, gossip, fun facts, journalists, orators, public relations, linguists, train conductors, bus drivers, taxi drivers, postal workers, radio hosts, Jack of All Trades)
♋︎ = Cancer (private, guarded, porous, nurturing, sentimental, reflective, nostalgic, moody, indirect, meandering, fluctuating, flowing, intuitive, compassionate, sincere, defensive, Caretakers (such as for a museum, garden, child, pet, or elder), recursive, connection, comfort, the tides, the beach, bedrooms, rivers)
♍︎ = Virgo (conceptual, curious, pondering, noticing, chaotic, keenly aware, self-contradictory, elegant, discerning, tweaking, optimizing, tunnel vision, librarian, archivist, behind-the-scenes work, the person who feeds the local stray cats, the friend who tells you when you deserve better but struggles to take their own advice)
House 1 = the Self, beginnings, birth, visibility, tangible things, the mind, personality, appearance, persona, identity, self-image, vitality, health, personal style, attitudes, mannerisms, appearance, life path, the Head, Brain, Face, Skull, Personality, General Appearance and Mannerisms
House 2 = resources, stability, security, family, self-esteem, self-worth, values & valuable things, possessions, accumulation, assimilation, talents, knowledge, personal finances, wealth, the Mouth, Voice, Throat
House 3 = friendly peers, sibling, local community, neighbors, short-distance travel or exploration, day trips, vehicles, writing, collective role-play and storytelling (LARP, TTRPGs, D&D), communication, skills, abilities, early education, daily rituals, tarot, cartomancy, dice, lunar magic, witchcraft, land-based deities, the Arms, Shoulders, Hands
House 6 = routines, chores, work, labor, unions, employees, obstacles, debts, digestion, assimilation, pets, maintenance, workplace, co-workers, lawsuits, health issues, the Digestive System, Large Intestine, Colon
House 7 = the Other, partnerships, relationships, contracts, one-on-one interactions, close friendships, commitment, projection & being projected onto, business & business partners, marriage, open enemies, exes, nemesis, exile, endings, the Lower Back, External Genitals, Renal System, Kidneys
House 8 = death, regeneration, healing, transformation, legacies, inheritances, shared resources, other people’s money, loans, the resources of a business partner or marriage partner, negotiated intimacy, negotiated sexuality, kink play, secrets, occult practices, taboos, mediums, near-death experiences, seances, alchemy, transmutation, kundalini, tantrik practices, the Pelvis, Internal Genitals/Reproductive System, Excretory System, Bladder, Anus
House 9 = knowledge, advanced education, law, philosophy, ethics, morality, long-distance travel or exploration, cross-cultural exchange, wisdom, publishing, religion, spirituality, gurus, the search for moral/ethical/spiritual authority, the search for “higher” truths, prophecy, astrology, divination, solar magic, sky-based deities, the Hips, Thighs, Knees, Buttocks
House 10 = public, reputation, achievement, recognition, dedication, determination, advancement, structure, heights, status, vocation, life’s work, maturity, expertise, experience, authority, contributions to the whole, the Skin, Bones, Hair, Cartilage, Joints
House 11 = friends, social circle, networks, allies, groups, clubs, community, luck, blessings, good fortune, hopes and wishes, long-term goals and desires, collective awareness, the Calves, Shins, Ankles, Circulatory System
Here’s where we get to the synthesis part. We get to ask a question, roll the dice, and put the three symbols together! I’m going to include multiple example questions for the same dice roll, so that we can see how our interpretation needs to change with the question.
Example Question: If I try out for the local musical, will I get the part?
Example Answer: Saturn in Leo in 2nd House
Here’s an answer that reveals to you something deeper about the question…Saturn, planet of skepticism, limits, fears, and responsibility is playing the role of Leo, the performer and dramatist, in the 2nd House of resources, self-worth, talent, and voice. We can imagine that the questioner is unsure whether their vocal abilities are good enough, whether they are experienced enough to land the role, or whether they can commit fully to the part.
However, Saturn will also help us figure out the answer–and with Saturn, the suggested method is to be objective instead of relying solely on your fearful or desired self-image. Have you ever been in a musical before? How often do you sing? Do you put in a lot of hours? If yes, then you’ve likely put in the work necessary to get you the part. Or is singing more of an occasional hobby for you? Is this your first time trying out? Are you unsure whether you can put in enough time if you do get the part? Then it might be prudent to wait until you’re better prepared and able to dedicate yourself to it!
