Sometimes big journeys begin with tiny steps. Sometimes little asteroids spark big thoughts. Sometimes a baby is the wisest teacher. Sometimes a picture speaks volumes. And sometimes I just get distracted. Only now…distractions are like sudden detours into beautiful hidden places. Here is one such excursion into symbolism. It was a royal treat.
Leo season was colourful to say the least. Just when I thought we were done with its show I was treated to a special closing act as the Sun prepared to step off the stage into Virgo for some inevitable overthinking!
Leo energy, in its positive expression, evokes creativity, joy, pleasure, heart desire, spontaneity, courage, generosity and the spirit of children. Also associated with royalty – even the Lion is deemed a king of sorts. But that night I met a little queen!
Last night I met Regina. The first baby I was compelled to hold in my arms since the birth of my youngest child nearly 5 years ago. The first baby other than my children to evoke that feeling of awe and a flow of pure emotion. Something about her seemed so important. I embraced these nearly forgotten sensations of pure joy as they reached my awareness.
She was captivated by the sights and sounds of the playground, attentive and in tune with every move around her. She was however especially taken by the trees and reached out towards them ‘asking’ me to take her close so she can touch them, smell them. Holding her and assisting her in making these first contacts with her environment made me feel like an important vessel of some sorts. I felt honoured to share these magical moments with her. But more than this, she gently stirred the depths of my being.
Upon returning home and finishing my daily rituals I sat down for a short bedtime read. Just before I started I noticed a name under the article I was about to read…”Regina”.
For a moment everything stood still.
In true spirit of “astrologitis” I was promptly compelled to look up any symbolism related to this name and check whatever was pertinent regarding that moment in time.
I located Regina the asteroid and placed it in my chart. I noticed the royal overtone of the placement immediately with Regina (the royal/queen) conjunct Jupiter on my DC in Cancer. That would, psychologically speaking, be a great recipe for blowing Regina’s significance out of proportion, what with my Cancerian mothering DC and her being a baby (OR a minor asteroid). Then there is my epic vulnerability to that stupid Jupiter placement of mine 🙂 however, being a devoted student at all times, I understand that there is probably something to learn or experience here so…why not stretch…
Meeting Regina
In my natal chart Regina the asteroid sits at 12 Cancer. Sabian symbol for this degree is illustrated by:
“(CANCER 12°): A CHINESE WOMAN NURSING A BABY WHOSE AURA REVEALS HIM TO BE THE REINCARNATION OF A GREAT TEACHER.
KEYNOTE: The revelation of latent worth in an experience once it is seen in its deeper meaning. “
The degree keyword is ‘REVELATION’.
Revelation…
As I set out to write down my impressions, the feelings this encounter evoked started to take shape.
Looking for the royal pair at the moment of the meeting I found Regina in Libra and transiting Jupiter still within orb of conjunction to my natal Uranus (talking about revelations) : sitting at 13 Scorpio my natal Uranus triggers the part of consciousness that Rudhyar interpreted as follows: “individual initiative, perseverance and caution in any attempt to understand how everything is related to everything else. What is most needed is the ABILITY TO RELATE SEEMINGLY UNRELATED FACTS.”
And indeed…here we are 🙂 relating ‘seemingly unrelated facts’! I am new to Sabian symbols so I get excited about the insights as they pour in. And they don’t disappoint.
Transiting Jupiter at 16 Scorpio adds flavour to the moment that triggered me so deeply:
“(SCORPIO 16°): A GIRL’S FACE BREAKING INTO A SMILE.
KEYNOTE: The fervent reaching out on the part of the young of heart to new experiences.
Faith in life and in other human beings enables us to go forth toward relationships with whatever attracts our senses or stirs our imagination. Smiling is perhaps a uniquely human characteristic because it implies a conscious acceptance of relationship, thus a choice. …”
(N.B. Speaking of relationships, I also noticed that transiting Venus in Libra was on my natal Pluto the day I met Regina. Venus happens to be my profected ruler this year and the pairing adds further significance to this connection and experience as well as ensuring powerful, valuable and regenerative effects on me that will no doubt ripple far and wide across my relationships with significant others but also my relationship to myself )
“…a series of responses to human experience and pictures a glowing WARMTH OF FEELING.”
She smiled, my heart danced. My face has indeed been smiling the whole day today as I reflected on the event. Funny how in holding Regina her vast spirit moved and sparked the parts of me that normally lie buried under tons of daily responsibilities.
This is the true value of interaction with people of all ages and stages – expansion, kindling and stretching of neglected parts of us. In connecting and perhaps nurturing another’s need even for a moment, we nourish and regenerate parts of ourselves. Interaction is such a crucial component of our existence. Being truly present in the moment, employing our senses and steadying our awareness is also a great way to reboot and replenish ourselves.
At the time of meeting baby Regina, Moon was touching my natal Ascendant: stirring up my emotions but also memories of the past and reflections on what is of essence (Saturn).
Regina’s namesake asteroid sat at exactly 21 Libra
“PHASE 201 (LIBRA 21°): A SUNDAY CROWD ENJOYING THE BEACH. KEYNOTE: A revivifying contact with the Mother-force of nature and of social togetherness.
…. We may speak here of OCEANIC FEELING, born of attunement to the most basic rhythms of existence, at whatever level it might be”
And…here we have a reflection on the mother – the womb. It begs to consider what is born of this encounter?
Within the coming day and as I am writing this Regina reaches:
“ (LIBRA 22°): A CHILD GIVING BIRDS A DRINK AT A FOUNTAIN.
KEYNOTE: The concern of simple souls for the welfare and happiness of less-evolved beings who thirst for life renewal.
The connection between “child” and “birds” implies a spontaneous, naïve rapport at the spiritual level, a soul-touch at the level of pure feelings.…What you received from the Infinite, you can give to the finite beings that thirst for it. “
What I take away from this is that, since you can only give what you have, it is vital to feed yourself, all your senses, right. To source the purest nourishment from your environment. To sample the variety of experience, feeling and inspiration these harbour in any small or big ways. The more you learn, collect and experience, the more resources you have to fuel your dreams, needs and actions right. And the more you have to give to people and endeavours that resonate with your soul.
Regina is ‘just’ a baby. But like all babies, what she is exposed to and nurtured with will define what she can achieve, source from and how she will nurture self and others as she grows. This again highlights the importance of touching others in our lives and environments responsibly, with reverence and respect. She may not be the next great saviour or queen or reformist or visionary. We have no idea what she will be. But if, say, from a place of wonder and awe of nature (that we can help ‘her’ nurture) she plants just one tree or feeds just one starving child or inspires a single good deed…she becomes vital. Or she could become a great teacher, or doctor. Or even ‘just’ a great friend/mother who makes her friends/children happy and loved….the potentialities are countless, both ‘big’ and ‘small’. Whatever we absorb we end up injecting back into our environment. Everyone is vital.
Regina’s discovery
Regina discovered
On the day of discovery – August 3rd 1889 – Regina was retrograding away from her opposition with Saturn (past, limitations) and into a trine with Uranus (future, liberation and reform). She was spotted at 20 Aquarius, Aquarius being ruled by Saturn (trad.) and Uranus (mod.).
PHASE 320: (AQUARIUS 20°): A LARGE WHITE DOVE BEARING A MESSAGE.
“Every real spiritual step a man takes in his development is the result of a victory over forces of inertia or destruction. The Divine is totally “present” in the heart of all true victories.
What the “message” is depends on the particular situation, but the white dove always signifies peace; at the very heart of this peace is the CERTIFICATION of individual worth and victory”
Regina, reaching me via the August 11th solar eclipse on my Vertex at 19 Leo where the progressed Sun of her discovery happens to connect via trine from 19 Sag, comes to me as a child to connect with the child in me. When a royal visits, no matter how ‘little’, and has something to say or ask: it may be unwise to refuse the honour. The message the dove delivered to me is one of hope. I am glad I listened.
Back to REVELATIONS
But…how did Regina find her way to these pages in the first place… considering I do not really use asteroids in my studies….? Nor is this a study – more like a commemoration…
The Draconic New Moon preceding her discovery sits at (ARIES 25°): THE POSSIBILITY FOR MAN TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AT TWO LEVELS OF BEING. KEYNOTE: The revelation of new potentialities.
Regina draco
This is the degree where Uranus (revelation and reform) is found at the time Sky Unfolding site is born, Also noteworthy is SkyUnfolding Mercury at just over 29 Sagittarius in partile conjunction to Jupiter at the time of Regina’s discovery (you can view the site chart HERE). Even these aspects alone make it fitting that I was so drawn to Regina the child and Regina the asteroid and that I felt inspired to share and immortalize the moment and my first impressions on these pages.
This is how I first met Regina in August of 2018, 129 years after her discovery.
If anyone has experience with asteroid Regina 285 in their astrology studies please feel free to comment and share your insights.
Enjoy exploring.
Regina and her agent:
“285 Regina is typical, although fairly large Main belt asteroid. It was discovered by Auguste Charlois on 3 August 1889 in Nice. “ (Source: Wikipedia)
“Auguste Honoré Charlois (November 26, 1864 – March 26, 1910) was a French astronomer who discovered 99 asteroids while working at the Nice Observatory in southeastern France. “
At the age of 46, he was murdered by Gabriel Brengues, the brother of his first wife, Jeanne Charlois and husband to the sister (Therese) of his second wife, Marie Brengues, over an inheritance by the death of Jeanne (née Brengues). The man was found guilty and given a life sentence of hard labor in New CaledoniaMemorial
The asteroid 1510 Charlois, discovered by André Patry at Nice Observatory in 1939, was named in his honour.”
Source: Wikipedia
*Sabian Symbols interpretations sourced from “An Astrological Mandala” (Dane Rhudyar)
Comments are closed