If you are familiar with the concept of the "wheel of the year" in traditional Pagan terms, the graphic, above, may confuse you. If you are NOT familiar with the term, you need to know that the above drawing represents not only the traditional "quarter and cross-quarter" days, but other points which I will talk about below.
This drawing came about as the result of a question posed by one of my friends in her blog (see Eight spokes - because I was asked) where she noted that astrologically speaking, the Cardinal (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) and Fixed (Aquarius, Taurus, Leo, and Scorpio ) signs each had as associated holiday, but that there were none associated with the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces).
Now, I am NOT an astrologer.. I was an astronomy student once, just a half a hair shy of a college degree in the field and that should predispose me against it. But instead, it made me curious and once, many moons ago, I studied what was called sidereal astrology, which is a form that is precessed to coincide with the physical, actual sky these days. But none of that remains in my brain at present, so don't as me questions, ok? Look it up on the web if you must.
But I still watch the sky and see the effects of Mercury retrograde on communication (and computers) and this question tickled my interest. And being a visual person, I had to draw it out. I know astrologers draw the Zodiac counterclockwise. I'm not sure why, but when I went to do my drawing for this bit of thinking, I just couldn't cope with the idea that summer solstice was at the BOTTOM and winter at the top... so the drawing reflects MY perception of the sun straight up at summer, and deep "underground" in the dark season of winter.
I put in the solstices, equinoxes (green points) and the "cross quarter" days (red points) which are halfway between, noting their astrological timing as well as when European descended folks usually celebrate them.
Then I divided again, the intervals between the quarters and cross quarters, finding logical points in each of the mutable signs (dark blue points), but also 4 additional (balancing) points (light blue)... Without the lines for the signs of the Zodiac, the balance is easier to see (below)
If you know me at all, you know by now that I am not a "book learned" Pagan, but one who not only came to my path as a result of living closely with the primitive natural world, but also learned for a good part of my days on the path ONLY from the natural world and the Powers That Be directly. So it is to that realm I turn with questions and that realm that is primary for me.
There is a phenomenon that you may have noticed... as they day length changes over the course of the year, the change is NOT constant from equinox to solstice and back. No, the rate of change of day/night length changes... some times it seems that the days/nights will be the same length forever (to me at least) and then at a different point on the wheel I can almost see the change from one day to the next!
My intuition is saying that the variability in the rate of change is somehow connected to these "new" points on the wheel. But, being me, there is no way to tell beyond keeping them in the back of my mind for a cycle or two and thinking on the subject.
It is interesting to note, that independent of my cogitation on the matter, my friend has noted "The Mutables are when the stream is flowing -- Gemini flows toward Beltane/Walburgis. Virgo flows toward Mabon/Harvest Home. Sagittarius flows toward Mother Night/Yule. Pisces flows toward Imbolc/Disablot."
So it will be VERY INTERESTING to see what will be seen through the next cycle. Check back around Samhain 2007 for an update!
— Starwalker Oct 29, 2006