Lilith Untamed: A Guide to the Astrological Black Moon

From the first page it is evident that the author has a writing style that is both beautiful and easy to read, and within a few more pages it is clear that there is some fascinating information in store for the reader.  Lilith is relatively new in the astrological pantheon that is compared to traditional astrology, though the myth of Lilith is, of course, as old as the hills.

In mythology she predates Eve, and there is some suggestion that she was in fact the snake in the Garden of Eden. So it is not surprising that the author describes her as a little disreputable, a little surprising and disruptive. She depicts the freedom-loving, inner part of us that brings a sparkle and a sense of adventure into the area depicted by sign, house and aspected planets. As we follow her through the book, we see she brings exciting, or maybe even disconcerting challenges at times, but at the same time she dares us to be different.

It appears that the Lilith archetype can be found under other names in different cultures and in classical literature. The author makes it clear that our minds must navigate through three Liliths within our framework of knowledge. We are not dealing with the asteroid Lilith or Waltermath’s Lilith, but the one known as Black Moon Lilith. This Moon is the mathematical point first noted by Johannes Kepler, and the one often favoured by astrologers.

The enthusiasm of the author for her subject is evident within the pages of the book mainly due to her thorough and extensive research which is illuminated through her many quotes, relevant to the Liliths in their zodiac signs. For instance under Scorpio:

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practise any other virtue consistently: Maya Angelou

 Indeed, Scorpio the survivor has a natural affinity with the wild, untamed Lilith, to paraphrase the author. We can imagine the courage the Scorpio Lilith may need to navigate the obstacles which may litter her path in order to emerge triumphant.

 Lilith in the zodiac signs is underscored by examples of well known celebrities past and present, for instance, Lilith in Gemini can give a flair for expression which we see in the life of Abraham Lincoln, a great orator, his words short and to the point. Lilith in Pisces can give unbounded imagination and spiritual illumination as in the chart of Rudolf Steiner. What is particularly helpful is the list of dates where Lilith can be found, given in each of the chapters on Lilith’s zodiac placements.

Lilith is also described in the twelve houses which I found particularly useful, as well as pertinent to the charts in my own casebook of clients and friends. The descriptions were uncanny in their accuracy. There are also examples from literature and politics which gives evidence of the author’s wide-ranging knowledge within and outside astrology.  For instance, a 7^th house heroine is Jane Eyre, who battles her Lilith through relationships, but is she, I wonder,  Charlotte Bronte’s alter ego?

There is a helpful chapter on combining Lilith’s placement in sign and house, the author reminding us that astrology is a subtle art and that there are many things to be taken into consideration. Not forgetting Lilith’s aspects to other planets. The transits of Lilith to planets and points in our charts might bring unexpected happenings into our lives.  Lilith’s transits in Mundane Astrology may also bring up unexpected events.

Lilith is born and reborn again, made new for every generation, the author tells us. She may be jostling for position among all the characters we each contain which is quite a thought to contemplate. What is pleasing is the author’s mindfulness of her readers’ abilities: those who are taking their first steps on their astrological journey and those that are a little further along. The author aims for complete clarity in helping us to handle our Lilith.

Wanda Sellar for Astrology Quarterly

 Just when you think you have all you need in your astrological toolkit, along comes Christina Rodenbeck’s ‘Lilith Untamed.’

Until now, I had resisted exploring the notion of Black Moon Lilith, thinking it might be just one more novelty in the ever-expanding world of chart add-ons. However, reading the introduction made me want to dive in and explore what Rodenbeck had to share. Immediately, I liked her style of writing. Introducing the idea of the untamed self, she explains that ‘Some of us have a lot of that wild energy, and some of us house just a few stray cats roaming on the edges of our souls.’ Well, who could resist reading on?!

I knew nothing about this subject previously but quickly recognized the significance of this mathematical point in the horoscope. The author offers background on the archetype, origin, and the notion of the ‘dark feminine’ before digging into the specifics of Lilith in one’s own chart.  All the essentials of a ‘cookbook’ are present with additional elements such as illustrative quotes, poems, examples, references and helpful details that result in a less technical, more well-rounded, and worldly text. A welcome change from standard fare.

One cannot help but take the next step to consider how Black Moon Lilith has manifest in the lived experience through considering natal chart placements, transits, relationships, and events. I have now explored more than two dozen relevant examples of Lilith’s influence in my own life as well as those of friends and clients. In each case, a new layer of meaning has been added that expands a previous understanding of circumstances and storylines. And deeper understanding suggests new approaches might be revealed to practically address challenges and opportunities towards ‘Loving Your Wild Self,’ as reflected in Part III of the book.

So, in my early experience with this chart point, I would suggest that Lilith is well worth considering. We may find that she is the missing puzzle piece we did not realize we needed. Thanks to the wonderful work of Christina Rodenbeck, for the first time in years I have added a new standard point for consideration in all my charts. I am intrigued to learn what other mysteries might be solved using the Astrological Black Moon.

Jayne Logan for www.astrobookclub.com

Lilith Untamed, a Guide to the Astrological Black Moon, by Christina Rodenbeck, is a richly detailed look at yet another addition to the astrological lexicon.

Signifying the untamed, wilder, anti-social elements of human temperament, the author relates it to Adam’s first wife in paradise who refused to accept the inferior role, and to the rage-filled Kali the Hindu goddess, as well as figures from other cultures. An archetype which encompasses the creative, erotic, unboundaried, uncivilized, violent, crazy, unstable, unconventional.  In Jung’s terms “an archetype is like an old watercourse — digging a deep channel for itself. … and sooner or later the water will return to its old bed.”

What is complicated is that Black Moon Lilith is not a planet or body, but rather a point, and should not be confused with the asteroid, Lilith. And to add to the confusion there is a True and a Mean Lilith.  The author says she generally uses the mean Lilith but that both are valuable.  My Janus software for some reason will only add the True Lilith glyph.

Calculating all the Liliths can be done on: https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/asteroids-astrology-online-calculator?no_mobile=1

And Café astrology has an ephemerides as well as calculator:

https://cafeastrology.com/whats-my-black-moon-lilith.html

https://cafeastrology.com/black-moon-lilith-signs-houses.html

Lilith gets an entertaining and extensive analysis with dates for Lilith in each sign (every nine years), illuminating quotes from famous examples and an analysis of what each sign and house represents. Lilith in daring Aries, the initiator, has Christian Barnard, the first heart transplant surgeon as an example. Vincent van Gogh, a Lilith in Taurus was on his Lilith return when his painting exploded in a vibrancy of colour. Emily Bronte, whose wildness lived out solely through her writing had Lilith in Gemini — and on through the signs.

The houses also get a detailed run down. Marilyn Monroe had mean Lilith on her Ascendant with many of the motifs associated with the Black Moon – abusive childhood, several marriages and miscarriages, treated as an outsider etc

Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage both with Lilith in the 3^rd house of communication – wild and wayout in language.  Barack Obama has his Lilith in the 7^th house of close partnerships – starting life as an outcast, ending up with a strong, independent wife. The 8th house, not surprisingly has Elvis Presley, Bardot, Angelina Jolie, Sophia Loren.  The tragic Whitney Houston who drowned in a bath had an 8^th house mean Lilith conjunct Neptune.

The Lilith cycle is pointed up as being important as is the Via Lamia – the gap between the mean and true Lilith.

This is an all-round one-stop-shop of an informative and entertaining primer on Lilith and worthy of a space in anyone’s astrological library.

Marjorie Orr www.starforecast.com