Already this year, thinly-veiled astronomical scare tactics pervade content pages in online news sources and filter into some TV broadcasts as well. Presently, we await the closest approach of 2004BL86, a Near Earth Object (Near Earth Object) co-residing in the category of Potentially Hazardous Object (PHO). On January 26th this significantly sized body (680 m) will pass 3.1 Lunar Distances from Earth and will be visible to those pointing telescopes skyward. Wait! It passes lightly more than three times the distance of the Moon from the Earth!? That’s close! Well, not that close. So don’t be scaring the kids or those subject to hysterical panic surges.
This PHO is getting all the sizzle because of its telescope visibility and that it is the largest PHO to be this close until 2027. I’ll get back to you on that one.
Sure, all that. What about the two PHOs that passed 1.6 and 1.8 lunar distances away on January 20th? They were 63 meters and 10 meters in diameter, respectively. The crater in northern Arizona was created by an asteroid estimated to be 50 meters wide. Oh yeah, these two asteroids were not even discovered until a few days ago.
In fact, there are 1,537 PHOs documented and I am seeing nine of those discovered this year! Make sure your legislators know that we need funding for sky searches for these little buggers - not that we could do anything about one we find a day or two before its closest approach.
Also close but not that close (2 degrees 37 minutes) was the opposition of Mercury’s station in Aquarius in opposition to Jupiter in Leo, retrograde. Mercury and Jupiter together sound like a promising combo for putting together a wish list, planning, or reciting affirmations while engaged in any activity from showering to texting to annoying those next to you on some sort of public transportation by your chanting. That it is... chanting in public is annoying and may attract unwanted attention. Anyway, now both wishing planets retrograde.
Okay, so let’s review. What modifications do you need to make to your New Year’s resolutions? More recently, what were you wishing this past Monday as Venus in Aquarius opposed Jupiter? Did that wanting receive proper articulation? What about your thoughts, wishes and desires back last year on October 25th? That was the day when Jupiter in Leo first reached the degree he occupied at the moment of the Mercury station.
Anything come to mind that needs articulation? Where do you think you’re going to be in terms of your mental wish set on March 1st? That’s when Mercury returns to form an exact opposition to Jupiter, thus polishing off the close, but not quite a cigar agenda (despite the recent efforts to normalize relations between the U.S. and Cuba) of the opposition.
As this year rocks on and prepares for yet another Jupiter-Saturn, manifestation rich square, what might you be conjuring and creating on June 19th when Jupiter finishes off the trilogy of passages to the degree he occupied when Mercury stationed nearly in opposition?
Yes, it’s time to dust off the concept of the wishing well and wish well. Earlier this month I spoke for the Tucson Astrologers Guild. After the Saturday workshop we headed to a local restaurant that maintains a famous wishing well on its patio. During WWII soldiers would go there and wish for a safe return prior to deployment overseas. Legend holds that all the wishing soldiers safely returned.
Should wishing be too thin for your consciousness, here’s the thing(s): Use Jupiter and Mercury. Plan. Declare those plans. Presently with the retrogrades, tweak (not twerk) those plans. Affirm. Propitiate and engage with rolled up sleeves and that precious sweat equity.
Anyway, back to it. Review, refine and resubmit your best requests to the receptive ear of the Cosmos. When done, engage with disciplined effort and adopt a posture that indicates you are willing to receive Jupiter’s goodness.