Combining Sabian Symbols with Progressed New Moons: Lessons from MLK’s Life & Legacy
In the video below, I share a talk I gave at the Twin Cities Astrology Meetup on the Sabian symbols and the progressed lunar phases. These are two fascinating tools for understanding the themes and cycles that unfold in our lives. The Sabian symbols assign a unique image to each degree of the zodiac, while the progressed lunar phases track a 29.5-year cycle that begins with a progressed new moon. Together, they offer a way to explore the deeper patterns and turning points in our personal journeys.
In the talk, I dive into a detailed case study of Martin Luther King Jr., exploring how his progressed new moon in 1954 coincided with the start of his leadership in the civil rights movement, and how a second progressed new moon in 1983—posthumously—aligned with the establishment of Martin Luther King Day.
These examples highlight how astrology can illuminate the themes and challenges we navigate, both individually and collectively.
The video and transcript are both available below. If you find this content helpful, please consider liking the video or subscribing—it helps others discover this material. Thanks for watching, and I hope you enjoy it!
Transcript
The following recording is from a presentation I gave at the Twin Cities Astrology Meetup yesterday. It's on the Sabian symbols and the progressed lunar phases. In the talk, I explain both of these concepts and how there is a different symbol for every degree of the zodiac. Additionally, in our own lives, we have a progressed new moon in our chart every 29 and a half years, which lays the foundation for the arc of those years. You can work with these two things together to understand the theme that might be unfolding for you in your life when you have a progressed new moon.
All of this is explained in the upcoming video. I use examples of a couple of clients, as well as a much deeper example involving Martin Luther King's progressed new moon in 1954 and then his progressed new moon after his death in 1983, the year that Martin Luther King Day was established, along with a lot more information. I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please like and subscribe—it helps people find my content. Thanks!
The impetus for this talk is that I had a reading with Demetra George. She did my birth chart reading, which was amazing. She's a pretty well-known astrologer who wrote a 1,200-page treatise on astrology. She's about 80 now and still going strong. Of all the readings I’ve had, hers was the best I’ve ever experienced, partly because she grounded the reading in my progressed moon cycle. She started by talking about where I was in this particular cycle.
We're going to talk about what a progressed moon cycle is today. It's a 29.5-year cycle that provides insight into the background of what you're moving through over a specific period of your life. After she introduced me to this, I started exploring my own clients' charts and incorporating my own spin by bringing in what’s called the Sabian symbols.
I'll explain the Sabian symbols—they are symbols for each degree of the zodiac, 360 in total. I started looking at the Sabian symbol associated with the progressed new moon. The progressed new moon is the seed for the 29.5-year cycle. I found that this approach was very accurate for clients. I'll give you two examples, and then we’ll use Martin Luther King’s chart as a more detailed case.
First, my friend Rebecca Larson, one of the leaders of the Indivisible Twin Cities group, is a great example. We met in 2017, right after the Trump election, when we both became politically active. For many years, we worked together, and she was one of the main speakers at the rally on April 5th, which had anywhere from 20,000 to 45,000 attendees. She was as surprised as I was by the sudden scale of her involvement. When I looked at her chart, her progressed new moon Sabian symbol was "a girl with a bugle." It’s an image of a girl with a rallying cry. It was so fitting—it blew my mind! The symbol was all about leadership and inspiring people, which gave everyone chills. She’s currently in the first quarter or a little past the first quarter moon stage, which is when your calling begins to manifest.
Another example is a client whose sister is a long-time client of mine. This woman came to me for a reading after her sister had been talking about their relationship for years. They live together—both unmarried, the younger one around 70 and the older one 80—and they’ve had ongoing conflicts. When I looked at the new moon symbol for the older sister, it was "two spinsters living alone." While it’s somewhat literal, it also reflects deeper themes of introspection and reflection on life. It was so accurate that it amazed me.
These examples inspired me to look more deeply into Martin Luther King’s chart, which we’ll discuss in detail later.
Personally, when I examined my Sabian symbol, I found it wasn’t necessarily what I wanted it to be. However, it resonated deeply. It’s about learning diplomacy, which aligns with my Libra placement in the 12th house. Since my new moon in 2015, this theme has been a significant part of my life’s lessons.
If you’re interested, I can share the image with you and send a link. You can reflect on it and let us know if it resonates. Some of this requires self-reflection because, often, we resist recognizing our fate or karmic path. Let me know what you think.
The progressed moon cycle is 29.5 years long. We’ve touched on this briefly, but I’ll go over it again quickly. The cycle begins with a new moon. Then, about 29.5 divided by 8 years later, you reach the crescent moon phase. Next comes the first quarter moon around 7 or 8 years into the cycle, followed by the gibbous moon phase, the full moon at about 14 years, the disseminating moon, the last quarter moon, and finally, the balsamic moon. Each of these phases has symbolic meaning, which I’ll cover briefly.
Demetra George, the astrologer I mentioned earlier, has written extensively about these cycles. She has books for both astrologers and laypeople. If you can’t find them, feel free to email me, and I’ll send you the references.
To orient everyone, we have three main tools in astrology: the birth chart, the transit chart, and the progressed chart. The birth chart reveals your karma, personality, and the lens through which you see the world. It highlights your traits but doesn’t define who you are on a deeper level. For example, being short or having a fiery temperament (like me, with Mars ruling my chart) are just characteristics of the body or personality you were born into.
The transit chart shows where the planets are in the sky at any given moment and how they interact with your birth chart. These interactions create the karmic experiences we encounter throughout life and allow astrologers to predict events.
Because we know where the planets are going to be and where they're going to hit your chart in the future, this is how we can say, “You might have a really good experience in your partnerships next year,” or, “It could be a little rough.” That’s where the energy or the ideas come from.
Then we have the progressed chart, which is a symbolic chart that represents the evolution of your personality over time. This is the 29.5-year cycle. In that chart, they move your birth sun forward one degree for every year of your life. That’s the root of the progressed chart.
For example, if your sun is at 29 degrees of Cancer, the next year your progressed sun will be in Leo. Thirty years later, your progressed sun will move into Virgo. Even just having a shift of your progressed sun from one sign to another can mark a new period of your life. You can also add the progressed moon into the chart. The sun moves into a new sign every 30 years, while the moon moves into a new sign every 2.5 years because it moves more quickly.
We’re talking about the relationship between these two lights—the sun and the moon, the lights in the sky that guide us. We’re discussing those relationships to understand the symbolic nature of, or the evolution of, your personality over time. You’ll get a better sense of this when I go through the slides.
In the first slide, you’ll see that the new moon happens when the sun and the moon are conjunct in the progressed chart. A progressed chart is something an astrologer can create for you—I could show you. The crescent moon happens when the moon has moved 45–90 degrees away from the sun. I’ll send you a copy of these slides as well. The first quarter moon occurs between 90–135 degrees, and the gibbous moon occurs between 135–180 degrees, and so on. You’ll receive these slides so you can review them.
Each of these phases has a different symbolic meaning. Dane Rudhyar wrote one of the seminal books on the phases of the moon and the sun. Some of what you learn here can also be applied to the new moon and full moon phases in everyday life. But now we’re applying it to the symbolic chart.
Every two weeks, we have either a new moon or a full moon, and those unfold in a cycle. You’ll have a first quarter moon, and that has its own energy. Now, we’re applying this concept to the bigger arc of life.
The new moon is the seed planted in the ground. People with a new moon in their birth chart tend to be intuitive. It’s like a seed underground that has to feel its way to break through the earth. They can have a very intuitive quality.
People with a first quarter moon, like me, experience what’s called “crisis in action.” It’s when the plant is getting ready and building the structures needed to bring forth abundance in the world—that full moon energy. It’s a turning point, like being a teenager trying to break free and establish something of your own. That takes a certain amount of energy. People with a first quarter moon tend to jump in, take action, or try something new. There’s this constant teenage energy of “I want to be who I am.”
This can be the energy of a first quarter moon in a birth chart, but it’s also the energy you see in the progressed moon phase cycle, where you’re doing this work out in the world around the seed you planted.
The full moon is when the fruit is on the tree, ready to be picked. People with a full moon in their birth chart, like Taylor Swift, tend to be prolific. They might produce a lot of work and put it out into the world. Depending on where the moon and sun are in the chart, their productivity might manifest differently. If the placements are in houses that are less associated with external achievements, their productivity might show up in more behind-the-scenes ways. It’s complex.
You can see that all of these phases have different symbolic meanings. Each moment in the cycle carries its own flavor. Deborah, do you have a question? No? Okay.
I’m going through this quickly so we can get to the main examples and look at your charts. If you want to know what your Sabian symbol is, we’ll cover that.
Here are some diagrams of the moon phases, and now let’s weave in the Sabian symbols. Oh, I’m missing a link on this slide—I’ll add it later. There are two books people can use to understand the Sabian symbols, which represent the 360 degrees of the zodiac. There’s also a website by James Burgess that fleshes out the meanings and includes images. We’ll see some of those images later when I talk about Martin Luther King’s Sabian symbols. That website is a great resource.
References for books on the Sabian Symbols
When studying any astrologer or writer, I always put my own spin on it. I don’t swallow it whole. If there are things you don’t agree with in how they phrase something, take what fits and trust your own judgment. James Burgess’s site is helpful, though I find him a little over the top at times. That’s just my take.
Nicole and I were talking about this. I have the first book by Mark Edmund Jones, but I didn’t love it, so I haven’t read it deeply. Nicole said the same thing. Dane Rudhyar’s book is good, but the descriptions can feel vague at times, just like Mark Edmund Jones’s. That’s why I recommend James Burgess’s site—it feels more modern and accessible.
Mark Edmund Jones’s work is detailed but archaic. It feels like walking through mud. His work dates back to 1925, when these symbols were downloaded psychically by Elsie Wheeler. Some of the descriptions are outdated or even racist, which reflects the cultural context of the time.
Whenever I’ve worked with the Sabian symbols, I’ve found them to be remarkably accurate. You can apply them to the placement of the sun, moon, or other planets in your chart. They’ve always felt very “dead-on” for me.
To combine the Sabian symbols with the progressed lunar cycle, you start by finding the degree of the last progressed new moon in someone’s chart. Using my astrology program, I can generate a list of the progressed lunar cycles. For example, Martin Luther King had a progressed new moon on January 14, 1954, at 20 degrees Aquarius. He also had another progressed new moon posthumously on August 25, 1983—the year Martin Luther King Day was established as a holiday.
It’s fascinating that our charts continue to have relevance even after we die. I’m getting goosebumps again! One thing to know about Sabian symbols is that the symbol for 20 Aquarius is called Aquarius 21. The numbering moves to the next degree.
If you look at the website for James Burgess, he always lists Aquarius 21 with parentheses saying "20–21 degrees Aquarius." Just so you know, that’s something to keep in mind.
Let’s look at Martin Luther King’s two charts with the progressed new moon. The first one is in Aquarius in 1954, and the second one is in Pisces in 1983. These are the two Sabian symbols we’re going to examine.
Aquarius 21: "A disappointed and disillusioned woman courageously faces a seemingly empty life."
This symbol emphasizes themes of inner orientation, reorientation, and spiritual resilience. It represents a moment when one must confront the emotional aftermath of shattered illusions while also implying an opportunity for courage and renewal. The individual is encouraged to face the future with determination, even when it appears bleak and uncertain.
One thing to add is that, for Martin Luther King, Aquarius is in his 10th house. The 10th house relates to career and what we do out in the world. Knowing that his progressed new moon is in the 10th house for the next 29 years, the focus of his life during this period would revolve around career or public achievements. If your progressed new moon were in the 5th house, for example, the underlying theme might be creativity or children. So, we don’t just look at the Sabian symbol—we also look at the house it’s in.
For Martin Luther King, the next 29 years were about his work in the world. The 29 years following that would involve 11th house topics, which relate to the greater collective. This is when Martin Luther King Day was established, during the next progressed new moon cycle.
In 1954, shortly after this progressed new moon, King became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, marking the beginning of his prominent leadership in the civil rights movement. This new moon, symbolized by the themes of disillusionment and courage in the Sabian symbol, suggests a fresh cycle in his life where he would face immense challenges, including systemic racism and resistance to equality in America.
Aquarius, as a sign, is associated with the collective. It’s about humanity as a whole, rather than individual concerns. Aquarius embodies big visions, new ideas, and the structures needed to bring them into the world.
The symbol reflects the disillusionment King and many others experienced as they confronted the harsh realities of racial injustice in the United States. The phrase "courageously faces a seemingly empty future" speaks to the daunting task of fighting entrenched societal structures, where the future of racial equality seemed almost unattainable. King’s role required him to overcome significant emotional and spiritual challenges while inspiring others to persevere despite immense obstacles.
At the very beginning of this cycle was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. I’ll skip over some details here since you can review them in the slides. This marked the start of his leadership.
The First Quarter Moon: "Crisis in Action"
The first quarter moon phase represents “crisis in action.” This is when challenges arise that test the ability to manifest the vision initiated during the new moon phase. It’s a time of bold action, mobilization, and confrontation with obstacles. There’s tension between the old and the new, requiring decisive action to overcome resistance and inertia.
For King, this phase manifested as the need to galvanize the nation to address racism and inequality head-on. The themes of courage in the face of disillusionment, as described in the Sabian symbol, are echoed here. King called upon the nation to rise above its failures and embrace a vision of justice, equality, and unity. This phase represents a turning point where the seeds planted during the new moon begin to sprout into visible action.
The Progressed Full Moon: Illumination and Sacrifice
King’s progressed full moon occurred at the time of his assassination. Full moons symbolize illumination, fulfillment, and culmination, but they also carry the potential for sacrifice in service of the greater good. This concept of sacrifice and release at the full moon is explored by several astrologers, including Dane Rudhyar, Steven Forrest, and Alice Bailey.
Dane Rudhyar describes the full moon as a time of fulfillment but also a moment of crisis and decision, where one must release what no longer contributes to growth. He emphasizes the spiritual and psychological sacrifices required during critical lunar phases.
Steven Forrest links progressed moon phases to psychological and spiritual development. He describes the full moon as a time of culmination and necessary release.
Alice Bailey associates the full moon with heightened spiritual awareness and the need to sacrifice the lower self for the greater good or soul purpose.
At the full moon phase, you reach a culmination point, and the rest of the cycle involves letting go of what you’ve achieved.
Cathy: Do you have anything to add, Nicole?
Nicole: No.
Cathy: Oh, okay. It just seemed like you had something on your mind. You know, I’m in that phase right now, so it’s interesting. I’ve definitely been meditating on it. I didn’t actually know this until now. Honestly, my whole life, I’m like, “Oh yeah, there’s a lot.” It’s also in my 8th house, so it’s definitely tied to loss.
So, this is an overview of where King had gotten to by this point. After the "I Have a Dream" speech, he encountered significant difficulties and pushback. People had differing ideas about liberation, and his involvement in protests against the Vietnam War brought additional challenges. By the time of his assassination, he was facing very difficult circumstances, but he persevered. This perseverance is built into the energy of the new moon phase—a person continuing to push forward, despite the great struggles involved in creating change.
When we return to the sacrifice theme, it’s important to note that King was well aware his life was in danger at the time of his assassination. He spoke about this in what I believe was the night before—or perhaps the day of—the speech where he acknowledged the risk but reaffirmed his commitment to his mission.
This slide summarizes the arc of the lunar cycle, from the new moon to the full moon. I’ll send it to you so you can review it later. I want to make sure we have time to chat.
Posthumous Progressed New Moon: August 25, 1983
I do want to quickly talk about his posthumous progressed new moon on August 25, 1983. You can see it’s in Pisces, and two days after that was the 20th Anniversary March on Washington, which was a huge event. Then, in November, a few months later, Martin Luther King Day was officially established.
His progressed new moon after his death was at 21 degrees Pisces, and its Sabian symbol is titled "Under the Watchful and Kind Eye of a Chinese Servant, a Girl Follows a Little White Lamb." There’s a little asterisk noting how racist that phrasing is. The imagery, though, of a girl following a lamb, evokes ideas of service, humility, and innocence. This new moon in his 11th house of the collective is about service—being recognized for service. It reflects the tenderness of Pisces, its empathy, and the softness of that energy. This degree invites humility, compassion, and the pursuit of higher ideals through collaboration and mutual care.
We could also consider his legacy, because I know I’m living that legacy—how he acted. This is personal to me. I didn’t know it, but he was a philosopher and earned a doctorate in philosophy. He studied the philosopher Martin Heidegger, whose work I studied for years. Heidegger is a complex philosopher, and all of his work is grounded in the idea of not just nonviolence but the connectedness of human beings to each other and to love.
What’s his name? Martin Heidegger. He wrote Being and Time. I think a lot of people are unaware of the depth of King’s intellectual knowledge because he had the capacity to speak in a way that common people could understand. Many didn’t realize that all of his theories and speeches were grounded in something much larger and deeper.
Nicole: Another thing I want to mention, which I find very interesting, is that we often think of Martin Luther King as being all about nonviolence. But the reality is that while he preferred nonviolence, he was not opposed to violence. When we look back on him, this is the narrative we see, but it’s not the full story.
It’s interesting because we talk about this image of the kind eye of a servant fondling a lamb, which is the gentlest thing. This is how we see him, but that’s not fully who he was. Once again, he was not opposed to violence; he just preferred not to use it.
Cathy: What he preferred, I think, was to expose the reality of the violent nature of the system by using nonviolent methods. When someone stands up and demands their rights, it can provoke a violent response, which exposes the violent control of the state.
Nicole: That said, he was not entirely nonviolent in the way we think of him. The narrative we’ve created is that he was entirely nonviolent, but the truth is more nuanced. The movement evolved, and Malcolm X picked up a more violent approach. King probably would have gotten there too, but obviously, we’ll never know.
Cathy: I’d love to hear more. If you have something he wrote or said about this topic, I’d love to read it. I want to learn more.
Nicole: It’s fair to say that King’s legacy has become synonymous with nonviolence, much like Mahatma Gandhi’s. We’ve contrasted King and Malcolm X as figures representing nonviolent versus violent activism. But it’s interesting that this legacy doesn’t fully capture the reality. Once again, we’re talking about symbolism here, and this is how we perceive him. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s accurate; it’s just the image projected onto him.
Talk continued... Cathy:
Here, we have some images from those two dates. This is a summary of how the progressed new moon applies to his life. I’m more than willing to change it up and add in what you were saying, Nicole, because I’m curious about the reality and whether I’ve missed something.
The progressed new moon at 21 degrees Pisces symbolizes renewal through unity, service, and interconnectedness—themes deeply tied to the Sabian symbol. This symbol reflects innocence, hope, and the selfless contributions of diverse individuals working toward a greater good. The 20th Anniversary March on Washington embodied these ideals, as people from all walks of life united to honor Martin Luther King’s dream and renew the fight for justice. Additionally, the creation of Martin Luther King Day in the same year further echoed the symbol’s message of service and harmony across differences.