Altjira ~ 26 August 2008

Last Friday the Minor Planet Center posted the naming of another Trans-Neptunian Object. The body designated small solar system body 148780 can now be called by his proper name, Altjira. With a 293.65 year orbit and orbital parameters more or less consistent with “cubewanos,” the name should be of creation or resurrection mythology. Altjira comes to us from the Aranda tribes of central Australia, the second recently named body for myths coming from the Southern Hemisphere.

Known as “Sky-Dweller” or “All-Father,” his feet are said to be those of an emu. His name, which means “him none made” is connected with dream time. Altjira, the sky father, created Earth, and then allowed the eternal ones of the dreams to descend to Earth as he retired to the top of the sky. Two interesting descriptors apply to Altjira. His presence was noted as otiose, serving no practical purpose. Added notations to his mythology observe he maintains an indifference to humankind.

Naturally the next few days I looked for “coincidental” or synchronistic references to indifference. Two appeared as I watched HBO’s drama Generation Kill, which based upon a book, loosely chronicles a recon Marine division at the start of the current war in Iraq. The more striking of the references came from the poignant observation a Marines that he fought to defend the American way and lifestyle so that people could continue to have the right to not care - it was phrased far more crudely in the show, but the drift was a marker of indifference.

Often in metaphysics people report they do not watch the news and cannot deal with the negative impact of what happens on this planet on a daily basis. Is this indifference? Is indifference the attitude of those who have felt cast aside, rejected or discounted by the powers that be and rest of humanity? Are these collective matters that Altjira surfaces? It’s too early to tell but there are many who feel disenfranchised in this world and many who ignore the difficult realities of life on Earth. The solution? How about a little of both? Currently Altjira moves between the 2^nd and 3^rd degrees of Gemini. Can a person ponder and view the harsh truths of life and maintain a spiritual presence? No doubt. Can the disenfranchised be included into the fold without compromising the status quo?  

Altjira’s perihelion degree comes in at 29 Capricorn 35 (heliocentric), stressing an urgency that the powers that be resume an effective role of leadership that supports the visions and dreams of every human. Certainly this plays out in the U.S. Presidential campaign as one party’s leader strives to inspire and the other party accuses him of being inexperienced, ineffectual and not wise enough in real world solutions. The flip side declares the experienced candidate committed to recent protocols, lacking insight for progress and promising future. Sounds like the same thing, only different, as if Altjira now walks about in Gemini.

On the personal level the perihelion implies a realization of involvement and perhaps participation in the matters of significant mundane importance. This suggests finding a way of becoming and remaining personally resourceful, and within the security created, returning to a visionary perspective of what lies ahead.

The node of this new body gives another Aries orbital contact, the north node crossing the ecliptic (helio) at 1 Aries 50. This point, by the way, coincides neatly with the perihelion of the yet to be named dwarf planet, 2003 EL₆₁. Once named (probably in Hawaiian lore), a new mythological marriage will occur. The nodal mission statement of Altjira deals with self-affirmation. Much like Makemake offers a bird man antidote for Sedna, perhaps Altjira insists upon a declaration of self that will not be denied by persons, organizations or theologies that appear indifferent, thus resolving the Achilles point of Eris. The plan consists of declaring and following self affirmation and assertion with a consistent campaign to make one’s mark in areas where one believes their energy would render the greatest benefit, not only for their personal interest, but that of the collective. As one of those creation/resurrection deity, this Trans-Neptunians agenda insists one apply one’s spiritual essence full bore, resting on no laurels of psychology healed patterns or family of origin issues nullified. Altjira becomes one of the bodies prompting those with consciousness by asking, “Now what? Where do you go from here? What magic do you hold up your sleeves?”

I do have a monthly, 300 year ephemeris available for this body. If any of you down under want to do some research on the history of the Federations’s legislation regarding Aborigines, I’ll gladly send you a copy. The rest of you blokes can get one too, for a small donation.

Altjira is new, having crept in for assessment at an intensely busy time. Life moves so fast it’s almost a dream. There are very basic keywords on my site on the Dwarf Planets etc. link and those who have purchased the Galactic Trilogy, already have keywords, the ephemeris and new orbital data in your e-mail boxes (and if you haven’t bought it...). Granted these initial comments are very preliminary, but I can see the influence in the mundane quite clearly and have been using my personal dream time to take early speculations further. More to come for sure.

If it’s too speculative, why not go for some conscious dreaming of your own? Right after sunset, to keen eyes, Venus, Mercury and Mars can be seen setting on the wake of fading sunlight. It’s a great place to extract a glimpse of cosmic awe and seed the background mind tracks with fertilizer. Currently, Mercury and Venus approach the square to the ever important Pluto, who has already applied Altjira, refusing to refer to himself as a dwarf planet regardless of what earthly authority attempts to usurp his power through nomenclature demotion. Pluto stands with the Galactic Center. Here he can rapidly magnify ideas into wildly progressive applications. Why not be a bit of a galactic gardener? Maybe Altjira, with his strange feet to walk the earth, summons green thumbs. Or for another approach, “Row, row, row your boat... life is but a dream.”