The Sun enters Libra II, the realm of Kairos the lord of time, on October 3, 2022 at 1:36 am EDT. Kairos is less the god of measured time, a role that belongs more to Cronos (or Chronos) or Kronus, which is to say, Saturn the outermost of the visible planets, the Greater Malefic, the planet that stood for the Titan who ate his own children. Saturn of course is the planet that has rings, and evidence is emerging that after a fashion, Saturn did eat his own children: the rings of Saturn are the debris left over from one of the planet’s moons, torn to shreds by the gravity of their parent planet. Given that the rings of Saturn are younger than, say, the Appalachian Mountains, and younger than the evolution of vertebrate and bony creatures on Earth, there’s something to that idea of Saturn being the destroyer of his own children.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves, and Kairos is a different god entirely — the god of timelessness rather than of time. When I say timelessness, though, I don’t mean eternity; that’s a different god and a different beast entirely, also. No, kairos means the Right Time, in the way that a blacksmith looks at a piece of metal fresh from the forge, and hits it when the air temperature and humidity cools it to a specific color of light and heat, and not a moment before that. The Right Time is when the weaver sees that one of the heddles on the loom is sticking just a bit, and pulls on it manually rather than letting the mechanical foot pedals handle it, just before threading the shuttle through the shed. The Right Time is when the astrologer agrees to accept an appointment for 2pm on a Friday, and then things go pear-shaped in both the client’s life and the astrologer’s, and the appointment is rescheduled for 7pm on a Tuesday. The Right Time is when the mother realizes that the baby is ready, and starts speaking in babble to them, priming their ears and brain for what will literally become their mother tongue.

None of these things are determined by clock or calendar. As much as we try, they’re not subject to hourglass or watch or atomic clock —they belong to the realm of the unpredictably predictable. Sometimes it’s the traffic jam when you’re already late, the no smoking sign on your cigarette… no wait. That’s something else.

Or is it? Maybe Alanis Morisette should have written, Isn’t it Kairotic? and then we’d all have a new word in our vocabulary, an experience of divinity that’s worth attending to, noticing, and celebrating. Apparently, that’s what the Greeks of ancient Alexandria did, near the westernmost mouth of the Nile delta — celebrated the things that were not regulated by calendar, clepsydra, sundial or mechanism: the rising of the bread and the fermentation of the grape juice, the slow transformation of cucumbers into pickles, the inching transformation of thread into cloth, the amount of practice necessary to turn a beginner into an expert, the time it takes for an acorn to grow into an oak. We like to think that we’re somehow masters of time — but in truth, more often than not, we let time master us. And that’s rarely more true than when we deal with this reality, that some things are just not structured to the clock: the cat tells me when he is hungry, and it’s rarely about when the clock says 6:30 pm — it’s when he rubs against my legs but doesn’t let me pick him up to pet him as the sun sinks on the western horizon.

Austin Coppock called this decan Two Links of a Chain. He meant it in terms of unyielding connections, but there’s another sense, too. A Chain is a unit of measure, in which 100 links of chain is equal to 66 feet, at least in the system of cadastral measurement (a list of real estate properties by size, location, owner, and landmarks) used in real estate transactions, in countries that follow an English measuring system. Two links of a chain, each 7.92″, is thus a little less than 16″ — and, converted to a square measurement, is just about enough room to stand on your own two feet in. It’s the bare minimum of ground that you can occupy. Thus, it’s not just about acting at the right time, but being in the right place, the place that is just yours.

Libra’s second decan is administered by Saturn — a role rather suggestive of both expertise and suspicion. Venus as the ruler of Libra likes luxury but also considers price and cost-benefit analyses in how they determine the relevant valuation. In that context, Saturn very much argues for a Caveat Emptor position —is this really as much of a bargain as we believe? This item is luxurious and lovely, but is it really $400 worth of luxury? The first decan of Libra, ruled by the Moon, is visionary — the second is more hard-headed and critical of alleged bargains and cost-savings, and would prefer a degree of minimalism to extravagance.

The four dodecatemoria of Libra II are Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus — telling a story of knowing something (like, what color and heat and light the iron must be to strike it), understanding the context of that information (why that color is important in the tool you’re making), taking the action (striking the iron), and accepting the completed result (having the tool made).

Planetary Positions

The Sun is below the horizon, making this a Night Chart in which Mars is stronger than usual, the Moon and Venus are weak, and Saturn and Jupiter are similarly debilitated.

The planets and abstract points in Angular houses, Uranus, Saturn, and the Nodes, as well as the Lot of Fortune, indicate limitations and challenges in peer relationships (Saturn), as well as upheavals and sudden needs in our professional work (Uranus). However, transformative trouble emerges at home (South Node), even as we find newfound freedom and opportunity in our professional work (North Node & Lot of Fortune).

The planets and abstract points in Succedent houses,demonstrate shifts in financial situations due to long-buried issues re-emerging (Mercury), and argument with friends over key decisions in political matters (Mars). However, those self-same financial issues are not so much resolved as smeared as our duties are enlarged by forces that remove normal boundaries to job descriptions and enthusasm becomes a key metric for employment (Neptune). We have a mix of outside obstacles and freedom here.

The planets and abstract points in Cadent Houses don’t always affect us directly, but do affect friends, family, and personal connections in ways that we have to respond to: Jupiter and Midheaven in Aries put learning opportunities and travel in center stage — you may have to travel for work but you also have a chance to separate out personal growth from professional certifications. What do you have to do? What do you want to do? Familial connections and reunions are important, but just writing a letter or two may work just as well (Venus, Sun and Imum Coeli). The Moon provides practical vision of adjustments to daily schedule, but Pluto identifies several ways your routines may be hindered by issues beyond your control.

Horoscopes by Rising Sign

Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.

Leo:

Virgo:

Libra:

Sagittarius:

Scorpio:

Capricorn:

Aquarius:

Pisces:

Aries:

Taurus:

Gemini:

Cancer:

Colophon

Colophon

I have a Patreon account for those who want to support this column as it continues its third year. Those funds support artists, artisans and thinkers that I regard as contributing to the well-being of the world. You can also buy me a Ko-fi in $3 increments; any column I write after receiving a Ko-Fi donation will be open to the public).  You can also schedule an appointment with me using Accuity Scheduling, for a natal or solar return consultation.

If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.

I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran‘s Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.

I use Christopher Warnock‘s The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock‘s 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.