Planet Weather for the Week of January 21, 2007                                                                                                                                   

SkyWatch – Moon phase of the week: 10/25 -- The Moon enters her First Quarter phase at 6:02 PM EST, at five degrees of Taurus. In occultism, this phase is generally considered the most propitious time of the lunar cycle for “magickal” activities. This is mainly because the First Quarter is that part of the waxing Moon (manifestation) that follows on the "unlucky" New phase during which the dark portion of the Moon is dimly illumined by earthlight. This phenomenon is called seeing "the old Moon in the arms of the New" and is considered very unpropitious in folklore, presumably because the Moon is in some sense "conflicted" and unnatural. Skywatching events of the week: All week -- As described in last week's SkyWatch, the recently discovered Comet McNaught may now be visible to the unaided eye very low in the Eastern sky just before dawn and low in the West just after sunset, although it remains difficult to spot, and you need a completely unobstructed view of the horizon. Rather amazingly, the Moon this week will be passing through a totally blank area of the sky, in terms of there being no bright stars or planets in or near her path, so simply enjoy the sight of her in all her solitary splendor! Space news of the week: Speaking of "the dark of the Moon," so-called "dark energy" and "dark matter" have become the prime focus of cosmological research over the past decade, these concepts being used to account for both the expansion of the universe, which has seemed to be driven by a kind of anti-gravitational force ("dark energy"), as well as the clumping together of stars into galaxies and galaxies into clusters in a way suggesting that the universe contains far more mass than is visible ("dark matter"). Now, recent research seems to indicate that "dark energy," anyway, is not necessary to explain the universe's expansion, which may after all be due to the old, familiar (to cosmologists, anyway) "vacuum energy" of quantum mechanics. If verified, this discovery may actually represent a major contribution to our understanding of the living Cosmos.

Go out! Look up!

This week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are the most active energetically and potentially most productive days (depending on what you’re doing!) There is no major Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon time during the day this week. (VOC- a kind of limbo - as it reaches the end of a sign, the Moon VOC makes no major aspect to another planet before it enters a new sign.) The Moon is VOC in Aries on Thursday 1/25/06 from 4:50AM EST to 8:28AM EST. VOC is best for less outcome-oriented activity, since VOC often means detours, distractions, or delays. If you want specific outcomes, or if timeliness is critical, choose another time. VOC is best for processing, imagining, creating, and open-ended activities, like parties, research, or cleaning your desk, for instance! It is said that when an action is initiated during VOC “nothing will come of it.”

Venus in fixed, air Aquarius opposes (180deg.) Saturn in fixed, fire Leo @ 23deg. on Monday, January 22, 2007 @ 10:40AM.  It’s time to make a decision about a relationship matter, or come to terms with your values/priorities. The pressure is on to reach your goals (with Mars also in Saturn-ruled Capricorn) – you may need to maneuver around anything that lies in the way. Certainly, you won’t be happy about any delays. You may have to get clear about your bottom line or the rules you’re willing to abide by, and those you require of others. Ask your heart, it knows.

Mercury in fixed, air Aquarius sextile (60deg.) Jupiter in mutable, fire Sagittarius @ 12deg. on Monday, January 22, 2007 @ 11:13AM EST.You’re sure to come up with some brilliant ideas this week, so note them down for future reference. Thinking big is part of this transit and you may be inspired to do so through a variety of sources – books, magazines, other media. The day may bring an adventure and lead you to places you did not originally anticipate. What will you discover?

Jupiter/Sagittarius square Uranus in mutable, water Pisces @ 12deg. on Monday, January 22, 2007 @ 4:42PM EST. This combination brings more in the way of surprises from unusual sources or by unexpected means. Get out of your rut and take a chance on implementing the new into your life. This aspect may have you wanting to plan a vacation or otherwise feed any routines that have become too mundane and lifeless. Good fortune and opportunity is indicated if this aspect connects favorably in your chart.

Venus/Aquarius sextile (60deg.) Pluto in mutable, fire Sagittarius @ 27deg. on Friday, January 26, 2007 @ 5:59AM.  Venus is very busy this week, confronting Saturn and dancing with Jupiter. The message is that once you’ve made a decision, you’ll be freer to entertain other options/passions – those that were not available due to previous commitments or even fear. Venus meeting with Pluto asks you to determine both your motivations and your strongest desires. Maybe it’s time to transform yourself and express your magnetism and personal empowerment. Fiscal responsibility may need to be addressed.

Mercury/Aquarius conjunct (0deg.) Neptune in fixed, air Aquarius @ 19deg. on Friday, January 26, 2007 @ 11:13AM EST.A spiritual truth and insight may shake what you thought you knew. You may speak in tongues or at the very least from your inspirational and soulful self. Someone may disappoint you by avoiding an issue. Skirting around the problem will merely delay the inevitable. Tell the truth but please, Neptune asks that you be kind and consider the feelings you may evoke.

Venus enters mutable, water Pisces on Saturday, January 27, 2007 @ 10:32PM EST until 2/21/07. Venus wades into the deeper waters of our complex emotions and feelings. Subtleties and tangled conditions are sure to surface, especially if you’ve been holding off discussing them. A watery Venus will always spill the beans, and in Neptune’s sign, the boundaries are loosened and often dissolved completely. Expect some teary eyes and the necessity to review your dreams and dream some new ones. This position is magical and spiritual, and allows for visioning and knowing on levels beyond the logical.

NewsBits:  Hillary’s In! Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her decision to probe the possibility of a presidential bid. Hillary was born on 10/26/47, in Chicago IL. Her time of birth however, is considered “dirty data” with conflicting times. She is in her Saturn/Leo return cycle, which occurs approx. every 28.5 years and always indicates a time of evaluation of one’s status, position, and re-setting of goals. She’s also in her Jupiter/Sagittarius return cycle, a once each 12-year event. Both of these planetary major personal phases give her the impetus to make a decision such as a presidential bid. There’s no question she’s motivated and she’s laid the groundwork by serving as senator. The question is can she shake her baggage? Is the country ready for a female President? Is the country ready for a black President – Obama? So far, we have two controversial Democratic contenders and one less controversial, John Edwards. Hillary may be a hard sell at first, but she’ll likely pick up steam. Her chart shows incredible tenacity, will and perseverance. She has 3 planets in Scorpio squaring (90deg. angle) three other planets in Leo – a potent and dynamic combination. Who else could have lived through Bill’s philandering? Her progressed Moon moves into loquacious Gemini in less than two months, meaning that she will begin to speak her presidential-bid speak, and we’ll get a better sense of where she stands on issues and what she intends were she to be elected. She is a bold visionary with pragmatic and political savvy. We’ll watch with interest as this story unfolds.

Violent Kids! Even in the affluent high school of Sudbury/Lincoln in Massachusetts, violence lurks. A 16-year-old, who had reportedly been taunted by schoolmates, took out his anger at a mild-mannered fellow schoolmate, which ended in a stabbing death. These kids who are teens now were all born with Pluto in Scorpio. This position of Pluto is intense and can easily build up resentment and anger, as it is unlikely to forget a hurt or slight. More reactive than most, Pluto in Scorpio can be vindictive and tends to strike back with double the force if it feels wounded in some way. The oldest of this Pluto-in-Scorpio generation is 23, and many in this general age group are dying in Iraq. Pluto/Scorpio is the intensity of passion that expresses itself as being born or dying, healing or destroying. It’s a powerful position/energy to embody, and we are seeing some of its manifestation in the lives of this generation.