Today the centaur planet Cyllarus makes his first exact opposition to the Galactic Center since 1875. This happens about every 130ish years as per his orbital period. Aspect history is here.

Also, in August Cyllarus will exactly oppose Pluto and remain locked into that opposition long term until around 2023. Details here. That seems big to me. Cyllarus seems about to become an important long term influence, and we should get to learn a lot about him. He’s a big factor in the Pluto in Capricorn story, because he’ll oppose Pluto through the whole of his journey through that sign.

In mythology Cyllarus is a young and beautiful male centaur, much sought after by the females. He was killed in the battle of the Lapiths and the Centaurs, and his lover Hylonome, from whom he was inseparable, threw herself on the spear that killed him. He hadn’t taken part in the early part of the battle, and is generally considered one of the “civilised” centaurs, but he turned up and fought for his side.

Ovid’s Metamorphoses on Cyllarus (from here):

‘Nor did your beauty, Cyllarus, if indeed we attribute beauty to your centaur race, save you in the fighting.

‘His beard was beginning to show; a beard the colour of gold; and a golden mane fell from his shoulders half way down his flanks. He had a liveliness of expression that was pleasing; his neck and shoulders, chest and hands, and all his human parts, you would praise as almost sculpted by an artist. Nor was the equine part below marred, or inferior to the human: give him a horse’s head and neck and he would be worthy of a Castor, the back so fit for a rider, the deep chest so muscular. He was blacker than pitch all over, except for a white tail, and legs also snow-white.

Today could be a good day to get some practice at that peace, love and understanding idea, which always seems so excellent in the five minute intervals between one irritation and the next. Eris, teacher of peace, was sent to try us. Her myth illustrates how even the most apparently sophisticated goddesses among us (Venus, Pallas and Juno) would really rather kick off something like World War III than ever let their egos take a knock — given the choice. And that’s the choice Eris gives us.

Today, the dwarf planet named for her gets squared by Venus, one of said goddesses. Eris’s orbit goes way out beyond Pluto, and in Aries particularly I think she can represent the last throes of ego that trip us up and make us stupid just when we think we’ve come so very far. She reminds me of that Ram Dass quote, which was something like, “If you think you’re so enlightened, try spending a week with your parents.”

Today also, Mars squares Hylonome from Virgo. I think Hylonome (in unprocessed form) can represent deep-seated emotional reflex actions that can happen so automatically and unconsciously that they don’t feel controllable, and are felt very physically (article here). This aspect from Mars in Virgo could be perceived as some kind of critical (very probably self-critical) attack, which, importantly, we have the option not to waste our energy reacting to. With Hylonome, I think it can be helpful to do something healthy and physical, since she seems to feel everything in her body, almost as if it doesn’t go via the brain. I think Hylonome in her higher form can be a brilliant combination of sensitivity and genius, in which case she easily has the capacity to figure out what’s going on and why, and to find some compassion for the source of the perceived attack and more importantly for herself and her feelings.

Mercury’s planning an eventful couple of weeks as he exits shadow phase (12:32:44 UT today) and hits the ground running. From our point of view on Earth he’s accelerating out of the retrograde phase now, and will roughly double his speed from one degree to two degrees per day over the next two weeks leading up to the Full Moon.

He’s currently at 21+ Gemini trining Chiron on the North Node in Aquarius (exact yesterday), and trining nearby Neptune (exact Sunday). He’s also square Uranus in Pisces (exact tomorrow), and sextile Eris (exact this afternoon) who is very slow even for her, and is about to station.

Next week he proceeds to oppose the Galactic Center, then Pluto, then squares the Aries Point as he enters Cancer on Thursday, ready to sextile Mars/Saturn the following week while also aspecting the Asbolus-Huya opposition as Huya stations, and then trining Psyche. Just after the Full Moon on July 18th he makes his conjunction with Ceres in Cancer, exactly opposing Jupiter.

It’s like commentating on a horse race.

It’s also how the mind (Mercury) is mostly experienced, racing us from the past (retrograde) to the future and back again, lest we notice the present. I’m convinced this is why Mercury rules Virgo (service); it’s often said that the mind is a good servant and a terrible master.

Details of Mercury’s aspects:

Thursday 03 July 2008
10:58:31 UT - Mercury (20 ge 22′48″) trine Chiron (20 aq 22′48″ Rx)

Friday 04 July 2008
12:32:44 UT - Mercury shadow phase ends (21 ge 32′21″)
17:36:39 UT - Mercury (21 ge 46′41″) sextile Eris (21 ar 46′41″)

Saturday 05 July 2008
11:07:02 UT - Mercury (22 ge 37′40″) square Uranus (22 pi 37′40″ Rx)

Sunday 06 July 2008
10:46:06 UT - Mercury (23 ge 50′1″) trine Neptune (23 aq 50′1″ Rx)

Tuesday 08 July 2008
19:16:48 UT - Mercury (26 ge 58′45″) opposite Galactic Center (26 sa 58′45″)
20:07:56 UT - Mercury (27 ge 1′46″) conjunct Cyllarus (27 ge 1′46″)

Thursday 10 July 2008
09:50:19 UT - Mercury (29 ge 20′2″) opposite Pluto (29 sa 20′2″ Rx)
20:16:51 UT - Mercury enters Cancer (direct)

Monday 14 July 2008
08:35:57 UT - Mercury (5 cn 48′3″) sextile Saturn (5 vi 48′3″)
22:35:57 UT - Mercury (6 cn 49′59″) trine Huya (6 sc 49′59″ Rx)

Tuesday 15 July 2008
16:15:26 UT - Mercury (8 cn 9′41″) sextile Asbolus (8 ta 9′41″)
21:11:03 UT - Mercury (8 cn 32′13″) sextile Mars (8 vi 32′13″)

Wednesday 16 July 2008
18:51:35 UT - Huya stations direct (6 sc 49′56″)

Thursday 17 July 2008
19:58:27 UT - Mercury (12 cn 12′25″) trine Psyche (12 sc 12′25″)

Friday 18 July 2008
00:54:17 UT - Eris stations retrograde (21 ar 47′36″)
07:59:05 UT - FULL MOON - Sun (26 cn 4′1″) opposite Moon (26 cp 4′1″)

Saturday 19 July 2008
19:53:52 UT - Mercury (16 cn 8′12″) opposite Jupiter (16 cp 8′12″ Rx)

Sunday 20 July 2008
02:06:16 UT - Mercury (16 cn 39′23″) conjunct Ceres (16 cn 39′23″)