The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a mass twice the size of Texas, made up of trillions of pieces of plastic trash. Metastasizing for years in international waters, it was an out-of-control problem for which nobody had a solution.
Until The Ocean Cleanup arrived on the scene. Founded in 2013 by Dutch whiz-kid Boyan Slat at the tender age of 18, the non-profit organization has been experimenting with methods of capturing the garbage for ten years. And it was just announced that their latest vessel (which can capture multiple tons of plastic in one fell swoop), has reached the astonishing milestone of removing 220 tons of detritus from the GPGP. At this point they feel confident that they can clean up the entire patch within a decade.
Boyan Slat is a fiery guy, with a get-it-done Leo Sun and a now-or-never Aries Moon. Born July 27, 1994, he also possesses a grand trine in caring water signs, featuring Mercury in Cancer, North Node and Pluto in Scorpio and Saturn in Pisces, which rules the ocean. Since he was 16, when a diving trip opened his eyes to the plastic problem, Slat has been a fierce advocate for his beloved sea. Now he’s having his first Saturn return, which sets off that grand trine, and he’s demonstrating that a seemingly impossible problem is actually solvable.
While not everyone has a chart like Slat’s, we can still get a jolt of that fiery power at the second Aries New Moon in a row (April 19, 9:12 p.m. PT). Positioned at 29 degrees of the sign, (the March 21 New Moon was at zero Aries) this lunation is a total solar eclipse that closely squares Pluto. Since it’s the first major planetary event to involve Pluto in Aquarius so dramatically, there is a feeling of breakthrough in the air. It’s a herald of Pluto’s 20-year transit through the sign of technology, which is sure to bring even more ingenious solutions to “unsolvable” problems like ocean garbage clean-up.
But what are we to make of this total eclipse at the last-gasp anaretic degree of Aries, and the “now or never” feeling it may bring? A long-time astrologer friend considers this the most important New Moon of her lifetime, and she’s been receiving powerful downloads about how to tap the divine spark within through expanding our breathing capacity. She reminded me that the eclipse is in the final decan (ten degrees) of Aries, ruled by expressive, passionate Jupiter. This influence can give us the courage to be our true selves, but can also push us over the top. The eclipse could bring a new beginning or signal an abrupt completion or a change of plans. Either way, when the Moon eclipses the Sun, intense feelings arise. This includes frustration and anger, especially as eclipse ruler Mars is in Cancer, where he feels a bit constricted, provoking him to fuss and fight.
Although the totality of the eclipse will only be visible in Australia and Southeast Asia, the energy is already at play – especially for those with planets or points in late Aries or early Taurus. It may feel like an impulse to charge ahead, even if you’re not sure where you’re going. Or an urge to do something you’ve long been putting off, or to mount a last-ditch effort toward a goal. Perhaps you’ll just feel a jangly, over-caffeinated sense that something is about to pop. You may not know what’s really going on until after the May 5 lunar eclipse in Scorpio.
Adding to the fun, Mercury is stationary, turning retrograde at 15 Taurus near unpredictable Uranus early on April 21 (through May 14). Back up your hard drives! The usual communication or technology snafus are to be expected. But it’s a good time to revise or rethink what you truly want. Lie low, if you’re feeling frazzled. Think carefully before making big decisions, like buying a house or starting a relationship. And be sure to include others in your decision-making process rather than acting rashly or going it alone.
Since eclipse energy needs an outlet, I recommend purging your house. Collect bags of belongings you no longer need, and donate them at the eclipse. This gives the energy somewhere to go. You can also give away old internal patterns and affirm a new direction. Burning (safely) is best at a fiery lunation; perhaps a piece of paper with your intention on it.
And if you need inspiration to try again with whatever has eluded you, watch Boyan Slat’s 2012 TedX Talk, which galvanized the world. He never gave up on his impossible goal, and at last the tide is turning.
Thank you for highlighting this Ted Talk by Boyan Slat. What an incredible inspiration he is and truly a God/Goddess-send to humanity and Mother Earth.
He gives us hope for humanity, eh? Glad you enjoyed it!