Planet Weather for the Week of April 15, 2007

SkyWatch – Moon phase of the week: 4-17 -- The Moon enters a New cycle at 7:36 AM EDT, at 27 degrees of Aries. Look for her slender crescent low in the West after sunset an evening or two later, always a beautiful sight. The Moon also reaches lunar perigee on this date, the closest she gets in her orbit to the Earth -- a mere 222,000 miles, give or take. (Some elderly cars have more miles on them than this!) 4-18 -- A very thin slice of Crescent Moon passes through the Pleiades ("Seven Sisters") star cluster just after sunset. This event may be hard to see, both because not much of the Moon will be visible and also because the event occurs very low in the sky, just above the western horizon. 4/19 -- An easier-to-see celestial close encounter takes place between the Crescent Moon and Venus. Their point of closest approach occurs well after both bodies have set but their near proximity in the evening sky never fails to enchant. Interestingly, their close approach always happens either very early or very late in the lunar cycle. Space news of the week: SkyWatch reported last week the launch of a Soyuz spacecraft carrying three crew members to the International Space Station. Correction: actually, only two of the astronauts were crew. One was a space tourist, yet another rich American who paid $25 million for the privilege and is evidently greatly enjoying his expensive "Orbiter Hilton" accommodations. 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/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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This week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are the most active energetically and potentially most productive days (depending on what you’re doing!) The Moon is VOC/Pisces on 4/15/07 – 11:02AM to 12:47PM EDT – on 4/17/07 VOC/Aries – 10:26AM to 12:11PM EDT – on 4/18/07 VOC/Taurus – 10:29PM to 11:51AM EDT on 4/19/07(next day)! – on 4/21/07 VOC/Gemini – 11:51AM to 1:50PM EDT.

Sun in cardinal, fire Aries trine Pluto in mutable, fire Sagittarius @ 28deg. on 4/19/07 @ 3:34AM EDT. The fiery and active Aries Sun stimulates the often latent and slumbering Plutonian netherworlds. Something may erupt – the pot is stirred – strongly held sentiments emerge and bubble over. This aspect is one of power, since we are powerful when we really understand ourselves and our motives, our strengths and weaknesses, and know how/when to apply them. We become privy to what moves and motivates others and/or someone exerts power or pressure (although we can easily do that for ourselves – no extra help needed!)

Saturn in fixed, fire Leo turns Stationary Direct @ 18deg. on 4/19/07 @ 5:26PM EDT until 12/19/07 - after leaving Leo and entering Virgo on 9/2/07. Saturn has completed its most recent backtracking and is ready to surge forward to complete its 2.5 year journey through Leo. Major world leaders and other high-profile icons have been in the spotlight or tested during the past two years and a number of them have left the scene in various ways, or otherwise been diminished. Saturn is a hard taskmaster and its sights were set on the traditional male energies associated with Leo: consciousness, pride, ego, life-style, vitality, childhood, children, what/whom we love, and how we express who we are (or aren’t). Leo in its best expression is the good, kind, magnanimous heart, the healing energy of laughter and love, playing the game of life with joy, zest, and animation, not just for now, but remaining enchanted with the simplest things life displays for us to make us exhale in wonder and delight. Saturn’s focus in the sign may remind us that we are not experiencing enough of the joy of life and so prompt us to change the structure or strategy towards greater fulfillment.

The Sun enters fixed, earth Taurus on 4/20/07 @ 7:07AM EDT until 5/21/07. It’s time to settle into the groove of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere with the fixity of earth-sign Taurus. Clean up and clear out to make for a smoother and more pleasant, abundant life-style. Relax, why worry…everything will be all right. Place your feet on solid ground, focus and operate with kindness and generosity – you will be provided for. By all means, do not stress – Taurus time is a gently focused pressure, really more of an unfolding – if you’ve planted well and cultivated well, the seed will sprout, that’s the trust of Taurus. Rushing through Taurus time is like forgetting to smell the roses – truly no fun at all. That’s not to say the fields won’t need plowing. Work well and then relax with your favorite comforts.

Mercury in cardinal, fire Aries trines (120deg.) Saturn/Leo @ 18deg. on 4/21/07 @ 3:09AM EDT. Last week it was the Sun forming a grand (fire-sign) trine in the sky with Jupiter and Saturn – and this week, Mercury takes its turn. Use the lightening fast energy this brings, not only to fuel your ideas but also to give them the bling they need to attract the market you want. Your ideas can both soar and form into something pragmatic and workable. Check your enthusiasm and balance it with Saturn’s sobering sentiment, while at the same time refusing to let Saturn’s tendency to negativity and fear stop you from blazing your path to glory, even if it is off the beaten path. You are the pioneer!

Mercury in cardinal, fire Aries trines (120deg.) Jupiter retrograde (Rx) Sagittarius @ 19deg. on 4/21/07 @ 6:39PM EDT. This is the third leg of the fire trine. So if you’ve got a solid plan of action, Jupiter will expand it – although, with Jupiter now retrograde (until 8/6/07), you may have some delays in delivery of your great good fortune, luck, and opportunity. Still the promise is there and the process is at work. Might we dare to say, “Be patient,” with the impatient, impulsive fire trine operative?

NewsBits: Don Imus Blows his Boundaries… and sets back political correctness decades! (Actually, he made a big contribution TO P.C., since it gave P.C. a golden opportunity to smack him down.)  In an early ad for one of his shows, Imus is pictured with a bar of soap in his mouth. Well, it seems that bar of soap is needed again. His racist slurs and derogatory remarks about the Rutgers women’s basketball team brought a sharp focus to shock (a.k.a. schlock) radio. Could this be the seeds of the coming planetary shifts? Do Saturn moving into Virgo (keep it clean) for 2.5 years on 9/2/-07, and Pluto into Capricorn 1/08, mean concern over appropriateness? Another Mars in Leo in the spotlight! That’s right – along with Hillary, Giuliani, McCain and Trump, Don Imus was also born with Mars in Leo. No two “Leonine Martians” are created the same but what they have in common is the ability to play their chosen role to the max, have a strong stage presence, large, bold energy and a healthy ego (or an Unhealthy one)! These people typically do not ask directions but simply go for it and do it! So now, this is a pop-quiz – where has Saturn been the past 2 years? That’s right, you’ve been paying attention out there in cyberland – Saturn’s been in Leo -- testing anyone with strong positions in Leo and offering up some new challenges. Gosh, I expect these poor souls must be tired right about now from Saturn’s demands and pressures. But let’s get back to Don Imus – his big mouth has really done him in now. He might have thought he was invincible. I often call Mars in Leo, the Superman aspect. They do carry themselves well, but often get carried away too. Imus has three planets in Leo: Sun, Pluto and Mars and Saturn crossed over all three already, possibly reminding him on some level how long he’s been at his game. The aspect that nailed him and ended his show was transiting Pluto/Sagittarius station exactly opposite his Venus/Gemini. Not even the silver tongued Imus could escape the backlash (Pluto) and political furor from insulting Venus (women, especially women of color).