Why 27 Years?
The Nodal Reversal and the Collective
by Erik M Roth
An Astrological Look at a Recent 27-28 Year Cycle
The recent events in Washington, DC are greatly symbolic of the of longer-term cycles and how they come back around with new context. It is no coincidence that what took place with the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh has an astrological connection to what took place in October, 1991 (27 years ago), when a Republican president nominated Clarence Thomas for the US Supreme Court that turned into a drama similar to what took place in 2018.
The astrological cycle that matches up with a 27-year span of time is called a “Nodal Reversal”. Astrologers have been aware of this cycle for a very long time and it is one of several lunar cycles that are notable to track, which include eclipse cycles. Both Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh fall into, nearly exact, on the 27-year track. A Nodal Reversal is when the North Node meets the South Node and vice versa on the point they were at in any 27-Year period and includes a return at the 27-year mark of the Sun-Moon angle at the original point.
This Nodal Reversal cycle is measured in Shamanic Astrology beginning with the return of the Sun and Moon to it same angle near the same degrees/sign 27 years ago to the day and ends with the Lunar Nodes returning to their opposite number (North Node to South Node and vice versa). This is about a 10-month window of time, roughly from 27 to 28 years of age in a person’s life or after an event.
What is a Nodal Reversal?
Learn about Lunar Nodes and Nodal Reversals – 15 Minute Audio
What is the Nodal Reversal at age 27-28? In a person’s life, it is the first real cycle that deals with owning up to one’s current reality. It is a “middle world” process of taking responsibility for one’s life path and showing up for it. It’s about changing any unhealthy patterns. The Nodal Reversal cycle/initiation is similar in many respects to a Saturn Return. It is both the halfway mark between 2 Nodal Return initiations and a completion phase of a 27-year period from the original intent of the natal chart.
“Owning up to one’s current reality” and changing an toxic or unhealthy pattern can be very challenging for people in the age group of 27-28 (which ends about 1 to 1 ½ years prior to their first Saturn Return). This is especially true for those who addicted to escaping reality and/or have an abundance of creative force within their lives. In fact, there is an unofficial “27 Club” of musicians in the 20th and 21st Centuries and other artists dying during this period of time in their short lives.
A Nodal Reversal is a realignment with original intent often requiring a change to one or more basic patterns for the purpose of supporting an In the World Manifestation of the soul’s purpose. Must let go of attachment to lineage – sacrifice something (let go) . . . we can’t go down the same road anymore.
In the collective, the 27-28-year period can be seen in the most recent set of national news around the confirmation of Kavanaugh. Back on July 1, 1991, Clarence Thomas was nominated to be on the US Supreme Court. But something was brewing outside the public eye until the Anita Hill sexual harassment claims leaked to the public on October 6, 1991 about then-nominee Clarence Thomas.
Like the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, the investigation into sexual harassment claims were limited in scope and time. Thomas and the government became a symbol of patriarchy waving off the claims as almost inconsequential. Even with the controversy, Thomas was narrowly confirmed on October 15, 1991 by the US Senate 52-48, at the time, the narrowest margin to confirm a judge on the US Supreme Court in the 20th Century.
July 1, 1991 – Clarence Tomas nominated by President George HW Bush
October 6, 1991 – Anita Hill’s accusations come into the public eye
October 11, 1991 – Anita Hill testifies for the Senate Judiciary Committee
1982 to mid-1983 Anita Hill worked for Clarence Thomas at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
October 15, 1991 – Clarence Thomas was confirmed by the US Senate 52-48
October 18, 1991 – According to C-SPAN – Clarence Tomas sworn in here: https://www.c-span.org/video/?22161-1/justice-thomas-swearing-ceremony
October 23, 1991 – According to Wikipedia Clarence Thomas sworn in as a US Supreme Court Judge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Thomas_Supreme_Court_nomination
also by CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/07/us/clarence-thomas-fast-facts/index.html
Notable similarities to the hearings for Brett Kavanaugh:
• No other witnesses came forth to testify – Investigations were limited in scope (even though there seemed to be much more evidence in each case)
• It happened in Sept/Oct of the Years 1991 and 2018
• Most of the sitting republicans voted to confirm while most of the democrats voted to oppose
• The US Senate Judiciary Committee knew of the allegations against Thomas before they were leaked to the public
• It was the narrowest confirmation of a US Supreme Court judge in modern history (at the time) with a 52-48 margin
This brewing would reach a climatic phase during the 1992 US General Election period when an unprecedented wave of women ran for political offices in the wake of the Thomas confirmation to the US Supreme Court. This was highlighted by the first African-American woman, Carol Moseley Braun, was elected to the US Senate for the State of Illinois (who defeated Democrat Alan Dixon, who voted to confirm Thomas. Dixon was previously undefeated in every election he ran in from local, state to national levels). 1992 was called, at the time, “Year of the Woman”.
Astrologically, here is where the Lunar Nodes were during the period of the Clarence Thomas nominated and confirmation:
• Clarence Thomas Nominated – Lunar Nodal Positions on July 1, 1991, South Node 19 degrees Cancer / North Node 19 degrees Capricorn
• Anita Hill sexual harassment claims – Lunar Nodal Positions on October 6, 1991: South Node 14 ½ degrees Cancer / North Node 14 ½ degrees Capricorn
• Clarence Thomas Confirmed to US Supreme Court – Lunar Nodal Positions on October 15, 1991, South Node 13 ½ degrees Cancer, North Node 13 ½ degrees Capricorn
• On July 1st, 1991, the Sun was about 9 degrees Cancer and the Moon in the late morning was at 27-28 degrees Aquarius (about 4 days after the official Full Moon)
27 years later, on July 1, 2018, the Sun was at 9 ½ degrees Cancer and the Moon between 16-17 degrees Aquarius. This is the magic of the Sun-Moon pattern in seeing a near-exact aspect of the Sun and Moon come back 27 years later (this happens much more exactly every 19 years at the Metonic Return).
On July 9, 2018, Brett Kavanaugh was nominated by a Republican President for the US Supreme Court. Unbeknownst to those directly involved in this process, this was an opportunity for an honoring and healing of damages done back in 1991. It was a chance to truly leave no stone unturned, listen and to decide based on a person’s experience, character and qualifications to be on the highest court in the United States. As we know, very little of this was truly done, which made it even more controversial that Kavanaugh was confirmed.
The astrology bears this out, though. Starting with the Sun and Moon coming back to the same placement 27 years prior and the Lunar Nodes making their way to their opposite positions, it was setup for America to re-visit what took place in 1991 and own up to what is the intent of the journey by taking responsibility and accountability. When that’s not done, things tend to become more challenging as pressure and tension mount. Another brewing is taking place in 2018 that will most certainly bleed into 2019 and 2020.
Accusations of sexual assault then leaked out into the public eye on September 16, 2018 against Brett Kavanaugh by Dr Christine Blasey Ford from California. Short delays in the Senate vote to confirm him began (just like with Clarence Thomas) while an investigation and review of new facts took place. Two more women came forth after that with more sexual misconduct and assault accusations against Kavanaugh (similar to Clarence Thomas with more victims).
On September 27th, both Dr Ford and Kavanaugh testified (similar to how the proceedings went for Thomas). Both Thomas and Kavanaugh denied firmly with Kavanaugh expressing anger during his hearing (with witnesses and some experts stating Kavanaugh lied in is denials).
After a confrontation by courageous women after the hearings with Senator Jeff Flake, he was moved to call for a formal FBI investigation into what took place in the early 1980s (1982 and 1983, which is interestingly in the same timeframe that Anita Hill claimed sexual harassment from Clarence Thomas).
With an opportunity to act with integrity, responsibility and accountability, the government and especially the masculine failed the test. While there was confusion (all depending upon what officials in the White House and Senate were spoken with) as to whether a full investigation took place, it was later learned that not all witnesses were interviewed by the FBI, leading many to suspect that the FBI had limited reign to investigate. The report the FBI created was only seen by the US Senate and President but not the public. On October 6, 2018, a vote was then pushed quickly through by a margin of 50-48, an even more narrow confirmation than that of Clarence Thomas in 1991, 27 years ago.
Brett Kavanaugh timeline:
July 9, 2018 – Brett Kavanaugh nominated by republican President Donald Trump
September 16, 2018 – Accusations of Christine Blasey Ford a professor from Berkley, CA against Brett Kavanaugh about Sexual Misconduct and assault
September 23, 2018 – Deborah Ramirez claims that Brett Kavanaugh exposed himself to her while at Yale
September 26, 2018 – A third woman, Julie Swetnick, claimed that Brett Kavanaugh participated in a gang rape of her at a party
September 27, 2018 – Both Dr Ford and Kavanaugh testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee
September 28, 2018 – Senator Jeff Flake requested an FBI investigation of the events between Kavanaugh and Ford. Trump agreed to initiate an investigation but that it would be “limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”
October 4, 2018 – The FBI completed its limited investigation
October 6, 2018 – The US Senate votes 50-48 to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court – Tis is the slimmest margin by which a US Supreme Court nominee is confirmed since the 1800s.
On the same day, Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in to become a judge on the US Supreme Court. All but one republican voted in favor of Kavanaugh. All but one democrat voted against Kavanaugh.Regardless of certain details, controversy was deep, the divisions between Republicans and Democrats were even greater than in 1991, creating more fracturing in the political world and in the public. The theme in 1991-92 is the same theme that is happening right now in 2018. The MeToo movement, which spread globally in October of 2017 can be seen in force during this recent political scandal. We can feel the self-destruction of the patriarchal power as its pre-echo was experienced back in 1991.
It is exceptionally unfortunate that the masculine, as represented by the court nominees and many senators and the executive branches (during those times) only saw through the eyes of ego, power and greed, especially the 45th President.
This Nodal Reversal cycle, counting from the original date of the Clarence Thomas nomination and the return of the Sun and Moon in the same aspect on July 1st of 2018. This cycle (as measured using the Shamanic Astrology paradigm, which originated from Daniel Giamario) will officially conclude on or about May 18, 2019 which is the day the Lunar Nodes return back to their opposite member from where they were on July 1, 1991.
The Role of Venus
But astrology isn’t simply about one cycle or Sun sign. It is about the entire field or astrological environment, meaning no cycles or initiations operate in a void. What also confirms this period of decay of the patriarchy for me is looking back at what else astrologically happening in 1991, especially during the period from the time that Thomas was nominated.
In Shamanic Astrology, the planet Venus represents the Feminine Principle. Venus’ pattern in the sky creates initiations within us around our relationship with the feminine within (whether it is our emerging feminine or development of the anima). At regular intervals, it passes by other planets and stars (as seen from Earth, a geocentric perspective).
On August 28, 1991, Venus rose as a “morning star”, kicking off a new cycle in the sign of Leo. Venus first becomes visible when it about 10 degrees from the Sun in the sky. It happens that Venus rose with Jupiter and close to the star Regulus, the heart of the Lion Constellation (not to be confused with the sign of Leo).
Jupiter was also in Leo and is an agent and initiator of expansion of whatever may be going on or felt in the environment with a focus on the sign of Leo. According to Bernadette Brady, whose astrological work places great emphasis on stars, writes, that a heliacal rise of Regulus, “a strong belief in the correctness of one’s position, or path. A drive to succeed, to shine or to move forward in one’s life . . .” (Star and Planet Combinations page 209). While Regulus wouldn’t be visible for several more days, Venus’ connection at that time was a cross-activation of the star and planet, expanded upon by Jupiter.
This became even more evident on October 6, 1991, when Venus (at 29 ½ degrees Leo) moved back into a conjunction with Regulus and only 5 degrees from Jupiter (now in Virgo) and only 4 degrees from the asteroid Vesta in Leo. October 6, 1991 was the date the Anita Hill accusations of sexual harassment were leaked to the public.
This astrological alignment paints a picture of the heartbeat of feminine becoming highly visible and vocal and shining brightly that can inspire people (and more particularly the feminine) on a collective-level. Where the Nodal Reversal was planting this as the intent going forward, carrying a torch from 1964 (see below).
Connections to 1964
27 years before 1991 brings us to 1964 and the Lyndon Johnson administration. One of the greatest bills passed in modern history, the Civil Rights Act, was confirmed by Congress on July 2, 1964. While the focus of this bill was to “guarantee all citizens equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment, and its duty to protect voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment,” it would also have a major amendment to the bill about women’s rights, prohibiting sex discrimination. It came one year after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, which abolished wage disparity based on sex, in June, 1963.
Obviously, the Civil Rights Act came about due to the powerful work of many African-Americans speaking their truth and standing up for rights. 27 years later, the 2nd African-American person was nominated and confirmed to the US Supreme Court, even if Thomas was a highly polarizing figure. But more so, an African-American woman Anita Hill spoke her truth by facing her fears, inspiring many to participate in the political system to make changes.
Interestingly enough, it was the Republican platform in 1964 that championed women’s rights and a part of the Democratic party who was against it at that time. It was two 27-year periods ago that this took place. On July 2, 1964 the Moon was in Aries and so the prior cycle or intent was the period of June 28-29, when the Moon was in late degrees of Aquarius with the Sun between 7-8 degrees of Cancer. Over longer periods of time, the calendric variations in relation to the Sun and Moon, there are differences in the calendar dates as they compare to the positions of the Moon and Sun.
Less than a week prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Venus rose heliacally (heliacal means in relation to the Sun in the morning sky) on June 26th in the sign of Gemini with Mars nearby. This shows open communication and dialogue between the feminine and masculine as an intent. It was an amazing symbol of what was about to take place in Washington, DC.
With all of this, we could dive further into it all. The intent is to share a piece of how cycles can show up in the human collective, helping shift our consciousness to more authentic expressions of our soul’s intent.
We can see, overall, that we are deeply in another chapter where the feminine principle is shining brightly and able to summon the courage to speak the truth, showing up in a way that is highly visible. We, as a collective, are in a historical period of last stages of the reigning patriarchy. The cycle I’ve highlighted in this article is just one of the major signs of that truth.
And Finally . . .
With Venus currently retrograde in Scorpio at the time I write this, Venus is ending one journey of her cycle and moving into a whole new form when she rises again as a morning star in the sign of Libra. This is the phoenix being re-born into something who is driven by cooperation, conscious-equal partnerships, collaborative work and communication, and the building of community through those qualities just mentioned.
The Lunar Nodes move into Cancer (North Node) and Capricorn (South Node) on November 6th. This is, in part, providing a setting for building a new way for community, family, economic, environmental, educational and other systems to work long-term and in harmony with our evolving consciousness. The nodes will still be in Cancer and Capricorn through much of the Pluto-Saturn-Jupiter conjunction in Capricorn/Aquarius in 2020. This Nodal Reversal, originating from the times in 1964 and 1991 are helping set the stage for that 2020 alignment.
Even though these qualities show up as something we can initially perceive as “good”, there is undoubtedly going to continue to be growing pains and tumult to really create greater harmony. It is a long-term process and we ARE building for our future. It’s just that it is likely one of the most difficult challenges we’ve had to face as a human society and it is unknown territory for us. More than ever, though, the world needs an empowered and liberated feminine.