Planet Weather for the Week of May 6, 2007

                                                                                                                                  

SkyWatch – Moon phase of the week: 5/10 -- The Moon enters her Last (a.k.a. Third) Quarter phase at 12:27 AM EDT, at 19 degrees of Aquarius. The Last Quarter Moon rises around midnight local time, sets around noon, and can be seen during the daylight hours of the morning. Skywatching event of the week: 5/12 -- The Moon passes close to Mars. The best time for viewing the two close together occurs, unfortunately, just after Moonrise, about 4 AM EDT on the U.S. East Coast. Their point of closest approach happens on the previous night when both are below the horizon, so the Moon will be a few degrees past (below) Mars when they rise together in the wee hours. Space news of the week: This seems to be the month for the discovery of extrasolar planets, known in astronomical parlance as "exoplanets." Last week came news of the first "earthlike" planet ever discovered around another star and this week saw the announcement of the largest transiting planet discovered so far. The planet, a so-called "gas giant" like Jupiter, orbits a star about 440 light-years away in the constellation Hercules. A transiting planet is a planet that crosses in front of its star, causing the slight dimming of the star that allows the planet to be "seen" by astronomers. This planet makes one complete revolution in a little over five days. To date, well over 200 exoplanets have been discovered, most of them "hot Jupiters" like this latest that orbit extremely close to their stars. Interestingly, this type of observation was considered impossible as recently as a quarter-century ago. 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, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are the most active energetically and potentially most productive days (depending on what you’re doing!) The Moon is VOC/Sagittarius on 5/6/07 from 2:45AM to 5:21AM EDT – on 5/8/07, VOC/Capricorn from 3:34AM to 1:48PM EDT – on 5/10/07, VOC/Aquarius from 5:47PM to 7:32PM EDT – on 5/12/07, VOC/Pisces from 7:53PM to 10:19PM EDT.

 

PlanetPatterns:

These planetary energy patterns flavor the day and are felt or experienced often hours before or after their exact culmination, certainly until the next major aspect is exact.

 

Jupiter in mutable, fire Sagittarius trine (120deg.) Saturn in fixed, fire Leo @ 18deg. on 5/6/07, 3:13AM EDT. This aspect connotes a balance between contraction and expansion. You may come to conclusions that feel “correct” and you will reap an attendant sense of well-being. Neither too much nor too little, or a sense of contentment, however brief and fragile, describes these energies. Enjoy it!

 

Venus in mutable, air Gemini opposite (180deg.) Pluto in mutable, fire Sagittarius @ 28deg. on 5/6/07, 10:05PM EDT. Relationships may get into some intense territory. If you’ve stored up any resentment they’re likely to surface at this time. Depending on how this is done, it may clear the psychic space between you and remove blockages to greater intimacy or closeness.

 

Mercury in fixed, earth Taurus square (90deg.) Neptune in fixed, air Aquarius @ 21deg. on 5/7/07, 10:30AM EDT. Call this one, “fuzzy math.” Be careful that you are considering all the variables when making important decisions, as your idealism may get in the way of your practicality. On the other hand, you can just as easily imagine how to make an idea workable. In any case, you’ll be more likely to reflect with this aspect, have some down, or quiet time to meander, and explore mental roads less traveled.

 

Venus enters cardinal, water Cancer on 5/8/07 until 6/5/07. Venus gets sentimental in Cancer, and home, family, food, comfort and familiarity become a prime focus. Feelings may get hurt more easily and moodiness is common, mainly borne out of a sense of discomfort, or feeling ill at ease. Seek situations that provide comfort and security, or memories that bring you pleasure and contentment.

 

Sun/Taurus sextile (60deg.) Uranus in mutable, water Pisces @ 17deg. on 5/8/07, 4:26PM EDT. This aspect presents the opportunity to participate in group dynamics that will enhance your awareness of what’s currently vital to you or that reflects your sense of individuality. The combination requests that you grow and expand in nuance, and there will be conversations and occasions to facilitate that, if you are willing to participate. These energies do not press the point, but merely present opportunity. The rest is up to you!

 

Mercury/Taurus sextile Mars/Pisces @ 24deg. on 5/8/07, 8:39PM EDT. Take a chance, be bold, and ask for what you want, while still maintaining a semblance of harmony! This creative influence may bring you to new answers and creative solutions easier than you thought possible. Enlightening conversations happen without any effort. The excitement of neurons igniting and bringing advanced methods and thinking is a trip worth taking!

 

Sun/Taurus square Saturn/Leo @ 18deg. on 5/9/07, 8:05AM EDT. Now it’s time to buckle down, make a big push, and do the real work to move toward your goal or objective. You may be temporarily halted in your plan, but look at the reason why that might be so. Perhaps you need more time to firm and solidify your idea, your product, or your project. Take the time to lay the foundation that you can really build upon. A door closes, but look around; another may open for you instead.

 

Jupiter/Sagittarius square Uranus/Pisces @ 17deg. on 5/10/07, 11:45PM EDT. This second of three squares between Jupiter/Uranus is a combination bringing a thrill, and the joy of being alive, of discovery, and of possibility that may unexpectedly come out of the blue! Call it coincidence or serendipity – there’s electricity in the air that stimulates excitement and discovery. A positive, unexpected situation always tends to uplift. The first square took place in early February 2007, and the last takes place early October 2007.

 

Mercury enters mutable, air Gemini on 5/11/07 until 5/28/07. Gemini is one of Mercury’s home signs (the other being Virgo), and it enjoys its sojourn here. Expect more communication and regular discourse via stream of consciousness than you may every have wished for, especially from those who are already inclined in that way. “Motor-mouth” is a name we can apply. This quick-witted and alert, although distracted mentality, will have you laughing and enjoying word-play. Flirting is part and parcel of this Mercury, so enjoy and participate in the verbal gymnastics.

 

Sun/Taurus square Neptune/Aquarius @ 21deg. on 5/12/07, 10:57PM EDT. Those you count on may act out of sorts, be unavailable, elusive, or even deceptive. Hidden elements are at work, and people in power are preoccupied, meaning that their message is likely to be muddled or confused. If they could only understand astrology and not hold press conferences on important matters during this time! Something hidden comes into awareness and must be taken into account to understand the big picture. It’s best to have some quality down-time to ponder life’s uncertainties and conundrums. The aspect indicates the need for retreat and recharging. We may feel some of life’s disappointment, and that is the time to tap into universal wisdom to know that life is perfect even in its imperfection.

 

News Bits:

Paris Hilton goes to Jail! Arrested for driving with a suspended license (rescinded for driving while drinking), the Hilton heiress gets 45 days in the slam. This comes at the same time that a famous sculptor cast her body and likeness in a controversial autopsy pose to discourage DUI. What does her chart say these days? Paris was born on 2/17/81 in New York City (time unknown – source: several web bio sites) just prior to a full Moon in Leo. Along with Venus, Sun and Mercury in Aquarius variously opposing her Leo Moon, we knew this girl would be in the limelight and be highly visible. What’s putting her in the news so prominently right now is her Mars return cycle. Mars is currently traversing Pisces; the same Mars Paris was born with.  This is a cycle when people are feeling more feisty and willing to be impulsive or take more risks. Out leading lady bet on the fact that she might be invisible (Pisces) driving illegally but with a glittering, glamorous chart like hers, there’s not a chance. Sorry, Paris!

 

Pluto in Capricorn and the U.S. Government! It’s not too early to discuss the impact Pluto in Capricorn will have on the government of the United States. Pluto dips into Capricorn for the first time in January 2008, until 6/15/08, when it retrogrades to complete its 13 year cycle in Sagittarius, which began in 1995. On November 27, 2008, Pluto enters Capricorn for the duration of its 16-year cycle, until 2024! Once Pluto enters Capricorn, it will mark the Pluto return cycle of the Untied States. This is indeed a big deal, since Pluto’s return to the same sign only happens once each 248 years. Pluto is always a death and rebirth cycle of transformation. In the earth-sign Capricorn, Pluto will decimate all structures that are weak or were never formed on a firm foundation or ones that have simply come to their organic and cyclic end. As you might conclude, this is huge news for the Untied States, having exhausted our good-will capital internationally, running an enormous deficit (Pluto also signifies “other people’s money” and collective resources), suffering a devalued dollar, and bogged down by the unbelievable mess of Iraq. The Presidential elections of 2008 take place with Pluto at the critical degree of 29 Sagittarius and Jupiter (ruler of Sagittarius) in its Fall in Capricorn (Jupiter feels limited in this sign). The times, they are a changing’ and the powers that be, the conservative stranglehold on American politics, will desperately attempt to hold on to what inevitably will slip from its grasp and morph into a brave new world. The challenges that face the next President will be enormous, so let’s elect someone who has the integrity and strength of purpose for the task. Know anyone?