Bigger ~ 16 November 2007

This morning, before my first of cup of coffee properly kicked in, I read an e-mail from Space Weather telling me that Comet Holmes now sports a diameter larger than that of our Sun. I shook my head harder to clear the cobwebs and resetting my sensibilities that allowed me read down to the second paragraph. Yes, the comet’s debris field of dusty ice, gas and such now sports a cool looking sphere in space that is wider than the Sun and promises to block out the star, Mirfak, in Perseus, temporarily. But while the comet holds this diameter, its mass and density remain small. Thus, the comet will not deflect planets, nor produce life terminating collisions between bodies in the solar system. Yet, it does promise to reflect a good amount of x-rays, hopefully promoting an introspective, collective look within. (A really cool picture of the sphere of Comet Holmes can be found on Wikipedia) I mention this to ward off any doom e-mails that may be sent by individuals reading the same material before they wake up fully or have a chance to read the second paragraph.

The comet’s extra-solar expansiveness does trigger an interesting image. How big, expansive, extended, extravagant and increased are things going to get? We hear predictions that the Earth’s temperature could rise more than ten degrees before this century is over in weird, coincidental proportion to the astronomical increase in gas prices. Those folks monitoring the solar system closely note that when the new dwarf planet Eris came to light, she more than doubled the width of the solar system. Of course, in the same relative time frame, Sedna expanded the distance bodies in our solar system retreat from the Sun from 39 times the distance of the Earth to Sun to 893 of those same distances. Late in 2006 an obscure body named 2006 SQ372 indicated that when it chills out and takes refuge from the Sun, it does so at a distance of 1,912 times that of the Earth from the Sun. This object, still a member of our solar system, takes 30,304 years to orbit the Sun! In the last four years our awareness of the breadth of our solar system increased more than 49 times!

Presently the expansive Jupiter moves into an official orb to the Galactic Center, promising explosions in consciousness, awareness, innovation and hopefully evolution. Besides the Kuiper Belt dwarf planet, Pluto, also stirring it up with the core of the galaxy, there’s another likely dwarf planet in the mix: the cigar-shaped, spinning, pulsing minor planet 136108.

136108 single-handedly has revealed things about our solar system we never knew before. Unlike most of the bodies in the Kuiper Belt, this one is rocky and ice free. It travels with an entourage of other icy bodies in its orbital plane. Once believed to be an object similar to Pluto in composition and size, this entourage observation suggests a once substantial impact of this body with another large Kuiper Belt object that blew the icy veil away from its core. In addition to the icy companions, 136108 captured two satellites. Hopefully and hopefully soon, if the discovering astronomers get their way, 136108 will take on the name of a Hawaiian deity to honor the place of this object’s discovery as well as many other Kuiper bodies.

Notably, 136108, at 14 Libra 47, now engages in a dance with the Sombrero Galaxy (13 Libra 45). The last exact conjunction occurred about six weeks ago and additional conjunctions follow next year in May and August. The Sombrero Galaxy in the first quarter of the last century confirmed red shift of light in space and in so doing verified the expansion of the Universe. Each time the Sombrero Galaxy engages with a transiting planet all of the keywords of expansion appear in life... higher, faster, further, more, farther, fuller, richer. This body provides some cues as to how to cope with times when life becomes so embellished, intensified and extra extreme - such as most people report now. The planet’s critical orbital points - node and perihelion - show in Leo and Aries as seen from the Sun’s point of view. Maintaining a clear sense of personal dominion becomes paramount. To what extent can one influence and engage with others without compromising the self? What is the extent of one’s reach? How does one maintain inner strength and well being in strange times that toss up odd and unknown challenges faster than a person can say, “Holy, local supercluster!”?

A few tips. First, since the Sombrero Galaxy, which offers the energetic background, confirmed red shift, and loosely correlating red shift to the root chakra, remember to shed and discharge unneeded and unwanted accumulated debris and energy on a regular basis. If you often empty the recycle or trash bin on the computer, allow yourself the same luxury. Second, clarify inner circle and outer circle companions. Inner circle folks, like moons, orbit subject to the decisions and choices you make because of the alignment mutually chosen between you. Outer circle folks can travel in a looser entourage state. These people benefit from your influence, innovation and inspired rendering without having to be fully engaged in your life. If it’s available in your area, maybe check out an episode of the cable show Entourage. This show demonstrates how traveling companions can become parasitic, thus forcing another round of red shifting relief via the resetting of personal priorities. Third, according to the orbital suggestions of 136109, value yourself, your needs, your priorities and any desire for retreat or refuge that periodically arise. Next Tuesday, Venus crosses the degree of the Sombrero Galaxy and 136109. Self evaluation and self value require a reassessment. Dump “stuff,” reset priorities, confirm inner resources and then, full of yourself, take a tip from Holmes (the comet, not Sherlock) and expand your brightening sphere as far as you want... and dare to take it beyond the previously known limits.