Planet Weather for the Week of March 23, 2008

SkyWatch – Moon phase of the week: 3/29 – The Moon enters Her Last (aka Third) Quarter phase at 5:47 PM, at 9 degrees of Capricorn, the sign of Her detriment (because it is opposite Cancer, the sign of Her rulership). Skywatching events of the week: 3/23 -- Venus makes a rare, visible close pass by Mercury about an hour before local sunrise, when both planets should be visible very low in the East. Mercury is the much fainter point of light to the lower right of Venus. 3/27 -- The Moon passes about one lunar diameter south of the bright astrological royal star Antares in the constellation Scorpius. Look to the south about two hours before local sunrise. (As viewed from New Zealand, Polynesia, southern South America, and parts of Antarctica, the Moon actually "occults" or passes directly in front of the star.) Space news of the week: Increasing the pace of its Space Shuttle missions, NASA last week successfully launched Endeavor, which rendezvoused with the International Space Station (ISS). The Astronauts main mission this time is to deliver and configure a giant robot arm on the ISS. Maybe because of its somewhat bizarre, otherworldly appearance, pictures of the robot arm have been quite a hit on the Internet. Go out! Look up!

 Knowing when VOC Moons occur is key to planning your successful 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, drifting, or delays. If you want specific outcomes, or if timeliness is critical, don’t use a VOC Moon time. VOC is best for processing, imagining, creating, and open-ended activities, like parties, research, or cleaning your desk/closet 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, which may not necessarily be negative.

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Week of 3/23/08 – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are the most active energetically and potentially most productive days – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement and/or producing results. On 3/23/08, the Moon is VOC/Libra from 8:42AM to 10:06PM EDT – on 3/25/08, VOC/Scorpio from 8:36PM to 10:11AM EDT (3/26/08) – on 3/28/08, VOC/Sagittarius from 9:21AM to 10:43PM EDT.

 

PlanetPatterns:

The following planetary energy patterns flavor the day and are felt or experienced often hours before and after their exact culmination. They remain effective, certainly until the next major planetary pattern comes along to shift the energy gears.

 

Mercury in mutable, water Pisces conjunct (0deg.) Venus/Pisces @ 14deg. on 3/24/08 @ 9:30AM. This week Mercury makes a number of connections with other planets and this will mean a very active time mentally and in news media. Everyone has something to say this week. Communication is prolific.

Watch for new pieces of information to emerge on the current “hot” topics. Everyone’s talking and the lines of connection are wide open. This is the time to say what you need to say. Mercury with Venus wants to smooth things over and offer compromises and negotiate favorable terms for all sides. If an olive branch is needed, this is the perfect aspect for it.

 

Mercury/Pisces sextile (60deg.) Jupiter in cardinal, earth Capricorn @ 19deg. on 3/27/08 @ 2:56PM. This aspect between Mercury and grandiose Jupiter is prone to exaggeration but also to expanding and expounding on possibilities and taking greater risks in communication. Solutions and several ways to resolve issues and develop ideas are also available in greater numbers. The mind works well, searches for options, and entertains many choices.

 

Mercury/Pisces conjunct Uranus/Pisces @ 19deg. on 3/27/08 @ 4:08PM.  This high-spirited combination can be creative as well as shocking. Perhaps you’ll let something slip in conversation – a bit of raw truth, or someone may open up in a more direct way to you. Be prepared, because this aspect is one of surprise and unexpected communications or connections. It’s excellent for refreshing and innovative troubleshooting, problem-solving and invention. This aspect succeeds even better when more heads/ideas are joined in pursuit of the same goal. Watch out for erratic drivers on the road and don’t take any unnecessary chances.

Venus/Pisces sextile Jupiter/Capricorn @ 19deg. on 3/28/08 @ 6:54PM EDT. Venus makes more than the usual connections this week too – so relationships (possibly after some honest conversation) flourish with a renewed enthusiasm and positive energy. Expand what you want, go after what you value, and, as Joseph Campbell says, “Follow your bliss.” If you want your partner to come along, then make sure you express what it is you truly want (at least for this particular moment in time!)

 

Venus/Pisces conjunct Uranus/Pisces @ 19deg. on 3/28/08 @ 6:58PM EDT. Spice it up and try something new. Take in a fresh, exciting, and stimulating venue. Gather together some friends and play a game – one that generates lots of laughter. Look at the bigger picture of your primary relationships and test them for life-giving and validating energy. Appreciate the quirks and idiosyncrasies of your friends and partners. Those are typically what make them endearing and certainly unique and individual. Surprise is the word – either you plan one, or one comes your way unexpectedly.

 

Jupiter/Capricorn sextile Uranus/Pisces @ 19deg. on 3/28/08 @ 8:14PM EDT. Chances are something will go way over the top. This can be a celebration or possibly a windfall. Put yourself in position to win, particularly if you have planets or angles at or near 19degrees of any sign – that’s where this week’s planetary combinations are centered. Dream big and shoot for the Moon – at least you’ll land among the stars. (That’s someone else’s quote – nice, eh?)

 

Easter Sunday!  For those celebrating Easter (or even if you’re not) with the attendant family, food, and other potential considerations of this holiday – don’t push it. The Moon has a long Void-of-Course time that day from 8:42AM EDT to 10:06PM EDT. Keep expectations low and your schedule loose, because for sure things will change and detours will have to be made. Give emotions some free reign and be curious as to where things will lead you!

 

NewsBits: The Landscape: Political - Economic! On 3/18/08, Barack Obama gave an inspiring speech on race relations in the United States, countering incendiary remarks made by his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Reviews of the speech are mixed in terms of damage control for Wright’s remarks but on the whole the speech is being called a great one. On 3/21/08, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former member of the Bill Clinton cabinet, endorsed Obama. Current Polls show Hillary will likely win in Pennsylvania. The Democratic National Committee must decide what to do about Florida and Michigan votes and delegates after a new mail-in vote did not pass confirmation. The mess in these two states is already breeding huge controversy and dissatisfaction among the candidates and an equitable solution may be difficult to find.  The confidentiality of the personal information in the Clinton, McCain, and Obama passport files has been compromised. This news comes as the Sun, entering Aries makes a square to Pluto newly invested in Capricorn. The Sun is the second strong astrological body (Mars was the first) to make a hard angle contact with Pluto. Beyond politics, always in the realm of Pluto is the economy – getting a whipping or a “reality check” from Pluto in the conservative, earthy, grounded Capricorn. Ever since just before Pluto’s shift to Capricorn in January, the stock market has gyrated wildly. The Fed cut interest rates once again this week by ¾ of a point. The next aspect to look for is Saturn reaching its station degree @ 1Virgo trine Pluto/Capricorn’s same station degree (exact 4/2/08) – the two are trine by degree from 4/15-27/08). Note that this is during the time of the Pennsylvania primary. Also note that these two planets, Saturn and Pluto, are in a strong aspect in Hillary Clinton’s chart, and the energy in the current sky will resonate with her chart. Briefly, these two planets indicate a determined, often fated, insistent, and persistent situation, decision, or outcome. The deep forces of desire coalesce into a crystallized form.