"Venus has always been associated with the feminine in astrology and in culture, yet little emphasis is placed upon the wisdom aspect of the planet. With the cycles of Venus we are given insight into the unfolding of wisdom within ourselves and society, especially with the cycle of Venus' inferior conjunctions - the so-called 2nd order cycle of the planet. In her timely and much-needed work, Firegazing, Gail has brilliantly outlined the meaning and import of these cycles and the deeper meaning of a planet that often only receives a passing notice in astrology, yet is so intimately connected with our own lives and what it is to be human. When Venus passes across the face of the solar orb, we are given opportunity to gaze into the very fire of the soul itself. Well done, Gail" - Malvin Artley
Fire-Gazing
When Venus Transits the Sun 2004 and 2012By Gail R. DimitroffTrafford Publishing
Copyright © 2012 Gail R. Dimitroff, PhD.
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4669-1677-7Contents
Chapter One: Fire-Gazing...........................................................................1Chapter Two: Prophecy Or Lunacy?...................................................................7Chapter Three: A Gem In The Heavens................................................................28Chapter Four: The Eye Of The Bull..................................................................37Chapter Five: Vibrant Expectancy—Setting The Stage For A Season Of Light.....................46Chapter Six: The Beauty Of Venus...................................................................50Chapter Seven: Venus And The Fifth Ray.............................................................58Chapter Eight: Cycles Of Light—Past Transits.................................................77Chapter Nine: On The Banks Of The Euphrates........................................................110Chapter Ten: The 2012 Transit......................................................................122Chapter Eleven: Paradoxical Lightness..............................................................132About the Author...................................................................................157Bibliography.......................................................................................159Appendix I.........................................................................................161Appendix II........................................................................................163Appendix III.......................................................................................165INDEX..............................................................................................169
Chapter One
Fire-Gazing When the June flowers are blooming in 2004 Harkness
What happened when, on June 8, 2004, Venus orbited across the face of the sun? There were no transits of Venus during the twentieth century, so this rare event was eagerly anticipated by astronomers, astrologers, and amateur stargazers alike. Some people had been planning for years to catch sight of this event of rare beauty, knowing that the next one will not occur until 2012 and then again not for over one hundred years.
To be exact, the transits occur at intervals of 105.5 years, 8 years, 121.5 years, and 8 years, so it is no wonder that fire-gazers the world wide look forward to the date. This event can be considered a mini-eclipse since Venus will transit across the solar plexus of the Sun. This is a vast energetic network on the face of the Sun from which the chakra term of the same name has evolved. This passage will thus cast a shadow on the Sun's bright disc and presents an occurrence which offers an opportunity to learn much about our sister planet, whose luminescence has earned her the title of both the Evening Star and the Morning Star. The atmosphere of Venus was actually discovered during one of the 18th century transits.
NASA breaks the transit into four "contacts." The first contact, ingress, begins when the disk of the planet is externally tangent to the Sun, and the second when the disk is internally tangent with the Sun. During the transit, Venus crosses the sun at a rate of approximately four arc minutes per hour. The entire event lasts a little over six hours. Contact three occurs when the planet's limb is internally tangent with the Sun, and the last contact occurs when the planet's limb is once again externally tangent to the Sun. The first two contacts are defined as the ingress phase, and the last two are known as egress.
Few transits have ever been recorded by astronomers, with the most recent transit of Venus occurring in 1884. Only one of five such events has ever been available in terms of technology so that it could be actually watched by humanity. Looking back through the corridors of time, one can chart the transits since the discovery of the telescope as follows.
It should be noted that the transits of Venus occur during the months of December and June because it is during this time that the orbital nodes of Venus pass across the sun. As seen from our viewing platform, Earth, it is only transits of the inner planets that can ever be viewed.
It is fair to say that transits of Venus are among the rarest of predictable astronomical/astrological phenomena. They occur in a pattern that repeats every 243 years, with pairs of transits eight years apart separated by long gaps of 121.5 years and 105.5 years.
The 2004 transit was visible from Europe, Africa except western parts, the Middle East, and most of Asia except eastern parts. Even though the transit was in progress, it was not visible because of sunset in Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, easternmost China, and Southeast Asia. The Sun was rising when the transit was in progress for the lucky viewers in western Africa, eastern North America, the Caribbean, and most of South America. Those who lived in western North America, Hawaii, New Zealand, southern Chile or Argentina were not be able to view the 2004 transit.
An interesting point can be made. There is always the possibility that the transits of the Earth can be viewed from the outer planets and perhaps, if life exits out there, some creature has probably noted our transits just as we observe those of Venus. Someday it is likely that an astronaut on Mars will view the Earth, as well as Venus and Mercury, making predictable transits across the Sun. He may wonder at the beauty and perhaps draw conclusions about Venus, the Sun and our own planet, earth.
One thing is clear—today we no longer have to position ourselves in the correct place on the planet to glean information regarding this event because radar is used to monitor the process. We no longer seek to measure the astronomical unit, the distance between the Sun and the Earth, about 93 million miles, a task that tantalized and often baffled many world-famous scientists including Galileo, Hell, Copernicus, Kepler, and Brahe.
That work was largely accomplished in the 18th century when astronomers were sent around the globe to glean information. As an offshoot of these expeditions, many places were discovered—Australia, the Cook Islands, and Antarctica, to name a few. Countries at war cooperated to set up viewing stations around the world, so great was the over-riding interest in the 18th century search for valid data. It was presumed that if calculations could be taken from many positions around the globe, it would help astronomers calculate the distance to the sun. The determination to glean good scientific data led to an unprecedented period of international cooperation. Not only was astronomical data willingly shared, but also geographical and navigational information. So great was the crescendo of information that it spurred Captain Cook to further exploration not only in the interim between the transits, but also for at least ten years afterward. Unfortunately the 1761 transits yielded poor data and this only intensified the search for valid data. Fortunately, the second transit in 1769 yielded much better information as astronomers were edging toward defining solar parallax.
By the time the 19th century transits were due, the United States was not to be left behind. S.J. Dick (USNO) in a presentation, "The American Transit of Venus Expeditions of 1882, Including San Antonio" describes how the eight American expeditions were organized in 1874 by the Transit of Venus Commission. Simon Newcomb served as the Secretary.
The U.S. Congress appropriated funds totaling an astounding $177,000 for the expeditions. Although Newcomb considered the result of the 1874 observations disappointing due to inherent difficulties in the method, at the urging of the Naval Observatory astronomer, William Harkness, in 1882, Congress once again appropriated some $10,000 for improving the instruments, and $75,000 for sending eight more expeditions. Despite reservations about the method, Newcomb led an expedition to South Africa and among the four northern stations, Asaph Hall led the expedition to San Antonio, Texas. (American Astronimical Society, 187th AAS Meeting, #35.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol 27, p.1331)
Harkness apparently spent much of his career studying the resulting data. His work culminated in his famous The Elements of the Four Inner Planets and the Fundamental Constants of Astronomy.
What scientists learned from the 18th and 19th century transits was a method of determining solar parallax. Parallax is a method of measuring the shift in an object's location by viewing it alternately from different vantage points. The understanding of measuring very distant objects by triangulation had proved a daunting challenge and was finally resolved when Stellar Parallax was discovered in the 1830's. Once this critical information had been digested, humanity's view of our universe was changed forever. Information of this magnitude gave insight into the scale of our solar system. In a broader sense, all the furor over the 19th century transits led to debates that nurtured what was to become modern astrophysics. No less an accomplishment was the eventual improvement in photographic techniques, which in the 20th century produced magnificent pictures not only of our own solar system, but also of outer space
Prior to the 19th century transits, great and competitive expeditions had been organized to observe the Transits of Venus. 18th century findings led astronomers to realize that that their data gave them a first good value for the Sun's distance. Edmund Haley, who discovered the now famous comet, was one of the first to determine that the transits of Venus could be used to calculate the Sun's distance. Although he never succeeded in pinning down the constant, the direction of his thinking stimulated others to proceed and succeed. In 1631, the French astronomer, Gassendi, successfully observed a transit of Mercury, an event that occurs several times during a century. Buoyed by his initial success, he sought to observe a transit of Venus, but, unfortunately, he failed—the transit was simply not visible in Europe at the time.
Locational problems plus a whole host of troubles plagued the early fire-gazers. Obscuring clouds, ship-wrecks en route to viewing locations, fortunes plundered in one's absence, fever epidemics—such were some of the challenges faced by the 18th century scientists. A number of scientific voyages were commissioned, but although many resulted in disappointment, the overall navigational data encouraged further exploration of the Pacific area.
Today, viewing a transit is simpler. To determine whether one can see a transit of Venus from their home town, one must simply calculate the Sun's altitude and azimuth during each phase of the transit using information tabulated in the Six Millennium Catalog of Venus Transits online. Credit should go to Jeremiah Horrock. It was he who predicted and documented the first actual observation of a Transit of Venus in 1639, a feat that has earned him the title of the father of British Astrophysics. But bad luck followed him as Jeremiah died at the age of 22, a day before he was to discuss the event with the only other known person to have seen it.
Chapter Two
Prophecy or Lunacy? The prophet is a fool, the man of spirit is mad. Hosea 9:7
Already, there is a plethora of data available for the 21st century transits. The NASA web site, a real gem, gives detailed technical information, but it is not in the nature of NASA's purpose to assign meaning. What we know about the Universe and how we know it is at the core of both astronomy and astrology. Astronomers have used methods of triangulation, pendulum clocks, and telescopes for observing the activity of the heavens. Astrologers also use the motions of the planets and stars, as well as the angle of aspect—the relational positions that stars, planets, and sometimes asteroids make—in order to interpret the significance in the heavens. Astrologers consider the heavens and all that moves and evolves within the Cosmos as one vast creation in the making. We interpret the hints that nature provides us in order to re-awaken our soul purpose as well as to make sense out of our daily lives. We examine the planets as symbols of some facet of our manifested life. Sometimes as we scrutinize the layout of the horoscope, contradictions occur and it is the task of the astrologer to synthesize the apparent contradictions into some meaningful statement. There was a time not too long ago when astrologers and astronomers were one and the same. Even when formalized science came into being, astrology still had a close relationship with the science of astronomy.
The difference in their perspectives lies in the fact that astrologers ask a question: What is the significance of the events in the sky? Might there not be some symbolic correlation to human behavior? When Venus makes its rare transit across the face of the sun, a question quite naturally arises: might these transits—brief though they be, lasting only about six hours in duration—hold some significance for humanity? Because Venus is a planet of love and money, the transit of this century suggests the possibility of reordering our basic priorities about what we love and what we value. The undeniable tension in the world between rich nations and poor ones calls for a reappraisal of wealth and possessions. Venus can teach us how to love and appreciate what we have as well as a concern for others. In this sense, the transit could be a kind of foreshadowing leading to a new morality—what humans owe to one another in a very basic sense.
The first transit of the 21st century set occurred on June 8, 2004, having begun at approximately 5:00 AM GMT. The process continued for around six hours. The following transit will occur on June 6, 2012, at approximately 5 PM EST and will last until around midnight. This transit will be discussed in a later chapter of the book.
The first of the two 21st century transits could be described as the Great Rehearsal, implying a time in which we may rethink the challenges and find solutions that will be influenced by the incoming energy. Presumably, there will be some kind of resolution with the second transit of the set. There is every indication that a struggle is ahead. We can expect an ever greater influence of Venus over the concrete mind of individuals and of groups. There will be deep seated urge for greater global harmony, greater ecological harmony and especially a more just and compassionate social harmony.
The 2012 event had been anticipated and described by the Mayans as the completion of the cycle of Creation. Does this mean the end of time, as some have predicted, or is it simply the completion of the first phase of Creation and the arrival of a new age? It may indicate a transition period of some kind, during which humanity will be tested.
Venus plays an important role in the Mayan calendar. The Dresden Codex, the best of the surviving Mayan treatises, marks the beginning of the Great Cycle as August 11, 3114 BCE. This date was known to the Mayans as the Birth of Venus. Actually, this may be the date that Venus was formally discovered by some long ago Mayan astrologer and it is included in the notations of ancient fire-gazers.
Why was Venus so important to the ancients? Many ancient people used Venus as a major point for calculating the calendar. The Mayans believed that there had been several creations prior to the present one, and concluded that those creations and their resulting civilizations failed because they did not use a proper calendar. With that belief firmly entrenched in the Mayan psychology and religion, incredibly accurate measurements led to the creation of the Mayan calendar.
The following chart of the first Venus transit of the 21st century can be viewed as a reflection of our Sister Planet as she makes her rare passage across the sun. The light of the sun, on this day, as it sends the energy of the planet Venus, presents a rare and beautiful spectacle. While other planets are active, send their note, and will be considered, it should be remembered that it is the transit itself that sets the major note of the day. Let us see what Venus, our Cosmic Mirror, reflects to us.
The Sun is at 18 degrees in the sign of Gemini (round off the 17 degrees 59 minutes to 18). It has been said that Gemini forms a point of entry for the Cosmic energy of Sirius, so during this time there will be the added influence of Sirian energy. Canis Major—the Dog Star, Sirius—has great meaning, particularly for the United States, because it conjuncts the Sun in the United States chart on July 4. For thirty-five days before and after the conjunction, Sirius is hidden by Solar glare, and it is during that time that the transit of Venus occurs during that period when Sirius is not seen. The star Sirius has long been exalted in history by its association with great empires. Sirius provides a clear channel for Cosmic energy to manifest its will. Situated below and to the East of Orion, the Great Man in the Sky, Sirius assumes the position of the faithful guard dog. The star is also known to be a symbol of power, the Watchman, and one who keeps guard over the abyss into incarnation.
With the 2004 (and the 2012) transit, the Sun resides in the sign of the messenger, Gemini. This position carries the energy of Mercury on the exoteric level and that of Venus on the esoteric. The conjunction with Venus adds to the potency of the Sun's illumination. Moreover, a Sun and Venus trine Neptune, represents an aspect that can elevate the consciousness to one of deep spirituality. Love-wisdom is strong with this combination. The Sun, Venus, Mercury conjunction squares Mars. Obstacles will be encountered and resolutions sought. Both Venus and Mercury are refining agencies. Struggles will surface and be confronted but courage and compassion will be present and available. Purification is in order. There will be a global struggle for supremacy. The struggle will entail soul-personality issues on all levels.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Fire-Gazingby Gail R. Dimitroff Copyright © 2012 by Gail R. Dimitroff, PhD.. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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