Planet Weather for the Week of March 4, 2007                                                                                                                            

SkyWatch – Moon phase of the week: There is no change in Moon phase this week! The Full Moon occurred on 3/3, and the Moon enters her Last Quarter on 3/11. This is one of those rare weeks without a lunar phase change that usually happen only a couple of times a year, balanced by one or two weeks during which the Moon undergoes two changes of phase! These phenomena happen because a lunar cycle (the period between New Moons) runs to roughly 29-1/2 days, so that each phase lasts a bit longer than a week. Skywatching events of the week: 3/5 -- The variable star Mira, aka Omicron Ceti, reaches maximum brightness. You can view Mira just after sunset when it will be the only relatively bright star somewhat south of Venus, reddish in color and looking a bit like a twinkling Mars. Discovered by Fabricius in 1594, Mira was the first known variable star (hence its name "Mira," Latin for "wonder") and actually pulses slowly over a period of a month or so like a kind of cosmic heart. 3/7 -- The Full Moon will pass just south of the bright astrological star Spica just before dawn as Moon and star are setting in the West. Space news of the week: Is there life on Europa? Mars remains the focus of the search for life on other worlds in our solar system, but some scientists believe that Jupiter's large satellite Europa may be an equally good -- possibly even better -- candidate. This is because Europa is thought to harbor a water ocean several miles deep under its thick surface crust of ice. However, designing a probe to search for life in that ocean was previously thought to require drilling down through all that ice. Recently though, based on lifeforms found IN the surface ice in Antarctica, scientists have come to believe that life -- if it exists there at all -- may similarly be located at or near the surface of Europa, making a life-detection mission to the Jovian moon a much more practical, near-term possibility. Go out! Look up!

Knowing when VOC Moons occur is a key to planning your astrological week!

The Void-of-course (VOC) Moon is a kind of limbo – as it reaches the end of a sign; the Moon makes no major aspect to another planet before it enters the next sign.

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, if possible. 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 a new action is initiated during VOC, “nothing will come of it,” or energies go in unplanned directions.

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This week, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday are the most active energetically and potentially most productive days (depending on what you’re doing!) Be aware that Mercury turns direct mid-week and can easily change your schedule!  The Moon is VOC/Pisces on 3/5/07in Virgo – 1:56AM EST to 4:25AMPM EST, on 3/7/07 in Libra from 2:51PM to 5:17PM EST, and on 3/9/07 in Scorpio from 8:51PM to 5:37AM EST on 3/10/07

The Sun in mutable, water, Pisces conjuncts (by 0deg.) Uranus/Pisces @ 14deg. on Monday, March 5, 2007 @ 10:38AM EST. Each year the Sun conjoins with Uranus ending one cycle and beginning another. The message is consciousness and surprises in awareness. It is a call to awaken sleeping parts of consciousness and humble us to the cosmic reality that we just don’t/can’t know it all. Since 2004, this aspect has taken place in Pisces, and so part of the questions are focused on our beliefs and our faith. What do you place your faith in and what do you believe to be true? These often unconscious answers shape your decisions and your actions, so now’s the time to review what they are. It’s also worthwhile to ponder how you have grown in awareness and your personal sense of truth over the past year. What hidden matters have come to light that have changed the course of your life? There’s a cold wind blowing through your illusions and self-deception – although it could be painful, ultimately it will allow you to be more in tune with your soul’s purpose.

This is the week! MERCURY turns Stationary DIRECT @ 25deg. Aquarius on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 @ 11:45PM EST.  Did you dream during this Mercury Retrograde cycle? What did your dreams or dreamy musings, meditations or daydreams tell you? A Mercury retrograde cycle, although it often disrupts normal activity flow or schedules and makes breakdowns of equipment and connections/communications more likely, is a valuable time, if you can accept it for what it is – a natural slowing down, and reevaluation of the conditions and thinking processes of your life. A retrograde often means finding something that was lost, including a part of you that you have ignored or overlooked, and this same energy can apply to projects and people in your life. This Mercury Rx joined Pisces – signifying dreams, faith, soul and believing – with Aquarius, representing truth, friendship, individuation, and global awareness; in short - our place in the world, our soul in the world, and our soul-work in the sea of humanity.

Recap: Mercury entered the wider arc of its retrograde cycle on 1/30/07, when it reached 25 Aquarius, which is the degree at which it turns direct on 3/7/07. Mercury passes the shadow point, reaching the degree at which it turned retrograde, 10 Pisces, on 3/28/07. These arcs before and after the technical Rx usually foretell and resolve, in that order, the issue that was revisited, or matters revised during the actual Rx. When Mercury Rx spans two separate signs, as it does this time, there is more complexity to situations, and it may mean we have to go back a few more steps (research) before we can go forward with a decision or application. Mercury turned Retrograde (Rx) @ 10deg. Pisces, on 2/13/07 until 3/7/07.                       

Venus in cardinal, fire Aries trine (by 120deg.) Jupiter in mutable, fire Sagittarius @ 18deg. on Thursday, March 8, 2007 @ 6:16AM EST. Venus is busy this week, making significant contact with three planets. This one represents a surge of joy, a positive feeling of goodness and abundance in some area of your life, particularly if you are a fire Sun sign. It’s a big green light, so take advantage of opportunities that come your way. This aspect brings spring into your life a bit early and a jaunty, assertive spirit to the foreground. Put yourself in the ring and play the game that delights you. All relationship activity between the sexes is on high alert!

Venus/Aries trine Saturn in fixed, fire Leo @ 19deg. on Friday, March 9, 2007 @ 3:41AM EST. First expansion and now some contraction, meaning that not all opportunities are created equal, so stick to your priorities and remember what you truly want to achieve – refuse unnecessary detours and contemplate possible consequences of your impetuosity.

Sun in mutable, water Pisces square (90deg.) Jupiter in mutable, water Pisces @ 18deg. on Friday, March 9, 2007 @ 9:19AM EST. The Sun is also busy with another important aspect following its meeting with Uranus earlier this week. Sun/Pisces has a special relationship with Jupiter, as this planet is the traditional ruler of the sign. You may feel an expansion of your sense of faith and belief. Just be careful of overdoing it. Remain true to your soul’s purpose and intention and don’t be unnecessarily swayed by seductive detours – unless, that is, you need some extra life lessons and consciousness-raising. Otherwise remain circumspect and evaluate the merits of what is being offered and the price you may need to pay for the temporary boost.

Venus/Aries sextile (by 60deg.) Neptune in fixed, air Aquarius @ 20deg. on Friday, March 9, 2007 @ 10:43PM EST. This aspect is what dreams are made of – the seductive, sticky web of Neptune can offer a wide range of sensory delights – which may simply play out as the need to take some down time to rest, relax, recharge, and allow your being to receive energy from the web of life. Tune in to nature and tune out of the rat-race for a time; you’ll be glad you did.

NewsBits: Sky Pattern: The potent Full Moon total Lunar Eclipse @ 13deg. Virgo, which occurred on Saturday 3/3/07, accentuated a pattern in the sky called a T-square, consisting of three (or more) planets – two opposite each other (180deg.) and another squaring (90deg.) both ends of the opposition. The signs involved were Moon/Virgo opposite Uranus/Pisces square Jupiter/Sagittarius. These are all mutable signs and typically deal with distribution of information, goods, services, and connections of all kinds. The balance point to look for in the pattern is located in Gemini, which, when occupied, forms a cross of four or more planets equidistant (by 90 deg) from each other. It is the cosmic inclination to seek balance, and since there is no planet in Gemini at present, the tri-energy pattern will be most expressed in Gemini terms. The big hype this week was the outrageously elaborate and over-the-top funeral of Anna Nicole Smith, and the brassy comments by controversial conservative writer/commentator, Ann Coulter, calling John Edwards a “faggot.” Both of these events are news-lite, which is often Gemini-land: gossip, or non-news. On the more serious side of Gemini – the Full Moon in particular, brings things out in the open – there were resignations in the Bush administration over the bad conditions and treatment of patients, at Walter Reed Army hospital, specifically, outpatient facilities for our wounded soldiers from Iraq. Here is an amusing quote from an uninformed scientist regarding the eclipse: "It's not an event that has any scientific value, but it's something everybody can enjoy," said Robert Massey, of Britain's Royal Astronomical Society. Astrologers know that eclipses sensitize degree areas of the Zodiac, the energy of which is re-ignited when other planets pass over them in the future and the effects can last for years. The first planet to stimulate the current total Lunar Eclipse is Mercury/Pisces by opposition on 3/30/07, then Mars/Pisces, by opposition on 4/23/07. March is a volatile month in a number of ways (2 eclipses), and we may once again have situations with Israeli and Palestinians.