Planet Weather for Weeks 5/22 and 5/29/11.

Planet Weather has been published for 14 years (in June!)  If you value its content and the information you've received, please consider donating. It’s easy to donate - click the DONATE button on my website www.planetweather.net  or send a check to 309 School St. Watertown, MA 02472. Thank you so very much, it will help me continue to publish and keep you astrologically well-informed about planetary patterns as they relate to current events! Many thanks for all who have already donated - it lets me know the work is appreciated.  ~Cosmically Yours, Dorothy

NewsBits: Syria’s Brutal Regime! Syrians are demonstrating against their oppressive government, in keeping with the mass movement across the Arab countries in the Middle East since last January. This week, Hamsa, a 13 year old boy, was taken into custody at a demonstration, tortured in unspeakable ways by the Syrian regime, and then his body was delivered back to his family. The photos of his mutilated body were heart-rending and outraged compassionate people everywhere. By all accounts, Syria is one of the most brutal regimes in the Middle East. The current leader Bashar al-Assad’s father murdered 20,000 of his people during an uprising and then bulldozed the town including the dead bodies.

Syria’s land is part of earliest recorded civilizations including Babylonia, Assyria, Egypt, Persia, the Roman Empire, and many others. The accepted chart for Syria is for the date on which it gained independence from France – 1/1 1944. A time of 12AM is used as the official time of transfer (although exact time is unconfirmed) in Damascus. What’s clear immediately from the chart is that its Neptune @ 4 Libra is receiving a strong opposition from transit Uranus @ 4 deg., which is also its station retrograde degree (exact on 7/9/11). This aspect indicates the struggle between a confusion of values and the need for renewal, freedom, and an end to the kind of slavery repressive regimes thrive on enforcing. This aspect will linger into January 2013. But by February 2012, transiting Pluto will reach Syria’s Sun @ 9 Capricorn. Pluto had already squared its’ Neptune @ 4Libra earlier, increasing the discontent which Uranus then erupted into what we see happening now. Neptune also plays a role. It will make another close square to Syria’s Venus @ 27 Scorpio, when it retrogrades back into Aquarius. This will be most active October/November 2011. The eclipses of 6/15/11 and 7/1/11 also exert a strong influence, the 7/1 eclipse exactly opposite the Syrian Sun with the Sun indicating its leader. Eclipses are strongly triggered by the Sun squaring that degree 3 months later but Mars/Cancer will trigger it earlier in mid-August 2011. As with all revolutions, there are many stages and difficulties in achieving original aims. Freedom blessed people everywhere support the courage of the Syrian people and hold their success in their hearts.

John Edwards indicted. Edwards was indicted on Friday 6/3/11, on charges of illegal campaign contributions and conspiracy to make false statements during his bid for the 2008 Presidential campaign. Much of this involves money given by two donors (about $925K) and used to hide his affair with the then pregnant Rielle Hunter from his wife and from the press. Edwards claims that he did not break any laws, and we’ll see how this all shakes out. John Edwards was born on 6/10/1953, 7:02AM, Seneca, South Carolina, RatingC (accuracy of time in question). Edwards has four Gemini planets including his Moon, Jupiter, Sun, and Mars (in that order) granting him great verbal skills. It’s his Mercury in Cancer (ruling that Gemini grouping) that is besieged by an opposition from Pluto/Capricorn, which made a station exactly at that degree in early April 2011. It looks like this may take some time to plow through, since Pluto loves to dig deep and its process can be complex! John Edwards is the sole parent for his three children from his recently deceased wife, Elizabeth Edwards.

SkyWatch: Moon phase for the week of 6/5: 6/8 -- The Moon enters Her First Quarter Phase at 10:11 PM EDT, at 17 degrees of Virgo. Skywatching events of the week: 6/10 -- The Waxing Crescent Moon makes a close pass by Saturn. Their point of closest approach occurs when both are still well below the horizon, but you can see them set close together the previous evening, as the Moon approaches Saturn from below. In fact, if you start checking them just after sunset the previous evening, you should be able to notice the Moon getting visibly closer to Saturn as the night progresses.

 

Moon phase for the week of 6/12: 6/15 -- The Moon reaches perfect Fullness at 4:14 PM EDT, at 24 degrees of Sagittarius. In folklore tradition, this is the Strawberry Moon. (You may have noticed the proliferation of strawberries in the fruit and vegetable section of your local supermarket.) It is also sometimes called the Rose Moon. Skywatching events of the week: This full Moon brings a partial Lunar Eclipse as well. Unfortunately, for viewers in North and South America, this lunar eclipse begins and ends well before moonrise so will not be visible. The complete eclipse will be visible from most of Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia, with portions visible from Europe, Asia, and Australia.

 

Space News and Weather: Sound the alarm! As NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and was coming in for a landing at Cape Canaveral after its final mission last week, it also prevented a crime from happening! Whenever a space shuttle moves through the earth's atmosphere at supersonic speeds when approaching a landing, it emits sonic booms. This time, the shuttle's sonic booms woke up a Florida woman who then looked out her window, saw two men inside her car in her driveway, and called 911. This led to the arrest of two men suspected in at least five car burglaries and one residential burglary -- a fitting end to Endeavor's long and productive career! 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 6/511 – Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, are the most active days energetically – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement with others, projects, and stimulation for producing results, or demands/challenges on your energy. On 6/5/11, the Moon is VOC/Cancer from 1:33AM to 11:03AM EDT – On 6/7/11, the Moon is VOC/Leo from 11:27AM to 3:33PM EDT – On 6/9/11, Moon is VOC/Virgo from 4:13AM to 6:31PM EDT – On 6/11/11, the Moon is VOC/Libra from 4:04AM to 8:33PM EDT.

Week of 6/12/11 – Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the most active days energetically – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement with other or projects, and stimulation for producing results, or demands/challenges on your energy. On 6/13/11, the Moon is VOC/Scorpio from 1:43PM to 10:38PM EDT – On 6/15/11, the Moon is VOC/Sagittarius from 11:31PM to 1:59AM EDT (next day!) – On 6/18/11, the Moon is VOC/Capricorn from 4:07AM to 7:47AM EDT.

Summary: As we leave one eclipse behind, we head right into the arms of the next. Most of next week is fairly calm but things may get squiggly on 6/9 and a bit intense on 6/10, and a bit of pressure on 6/12. After that, it’s full speed ahead to the Full Moon eclipse on 6/15!

Quote of Note: “Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.” – Sandra Carey, student of life.

Planet Patterns and Cosmic Headlines:

Venus enters mutable, airy Gemini, on 6/9/11, until 7/4/11. Lighten up and use those witty words! This Venus loves to socialize, mingle, and flirt with words. Keeping things light in your relationships and resorting to banter and word-play with a good dose of humor thrown in will go a long way to keep your relationships on track. This Venus loves change and bores easily, so consider a short trip or excursion to get away from the daily routine. Have a party, get out and about in the neighborhood, have fun with friends and make new ones.

Saturn in cardinal, air makes a Station Direct @ 10 Libra on 6/12/11, and remains Direct in motion until 2/8/12! With Saturn direct, you will most likely get your projects moving along, if they have stalled or needed re-working. You may want to make an important decision or a commitment. A Saturn station brings something serious to be examined and resolved, and Saturn loves order and organization. So along with Pluto occupying Saturn’s sign of Capricorn, what is it that you need to purge? These are times when living with less is more.

Lunar Eclipse Full Moon @ 24 Sagittarius on 6/15/11. It’s eclipse season and this the second of three eclipses between 6/1/11 and 7/1/11. The current eclipse belongs to the same Saros eclipse series (13 Old South) as the one on 6/1/11. Saros means repeating and was coined by the Babylonians in 4BCE. This eclipse cycle began on 5/24/803 and so this one is nearing the end of its cycle! Eclipses have very long cycles that begin at one pole of the earth and end at the opposite pole, a process that takes approximately 1240 years. Eclipses repeat around the same degrees each 19 years, approximately. In fact, it was on the same day, 6/15 but in 1992, that we also had a Lunar eclipse @ 24deg. Sagittarius! Think what was happening in your life at that time – there may be a thread that repeats somehow.

According to Bernadette Brady’s description in her book, The Eagle and the Lark, the characteristics of the current eclipse are “…expansive energy with a more sinister flavor beneath. The expansive energy contains frustration, inhibition and loss or separation.”

What’s important about eclipses is knowing into which area or house of your chart the eclipse falls, since it will activate that part of your life according to the energy of the eclipse and the particular contacts the eclipse degree makes to other planets in your chart. Ask for your astrologer’s help with this.

Mercury enters cardinal, water Cancer on 6/16/11 until 7/2/11. Communication becomes more sensitive and subjective. You may need to comfort someone or you may need comforting yourself. There may be discussions of security, family, housing issues, or financial matters that need attending. There is more attention focused on home, food, and family, and home can be a gathering place for friends. During this time you may find yourself evaluating who you are close to and why and whether you get the emotional understanding you need, and whether you can give it as well.

Currently Active Paradigm-Shift Patterns -- Back Stories: Repeats and elaboration of the major configurations affecting all of us currently.

Jupiter entered fixed, earth Taurus on 6/4/11 until 6/12/12. Jupiter stays in Taurus without moving back into the previous sign, even when it turns retrograde (it remains in Taurus), which only happens about every three years. Most of the time when Jupiter turns retrograde in any sign, it moves back into the sign before and then its retrograde cycle moves between the two signs. We might speculate that this can grant us greater relaxation and stability from the fast and furious and sudden changes that we’ve all witnessed since the beginning of this year, at least, while Jupiter was in fiery Aries. Stable and practical with a certain amount of sweetness, abundance, or favor is the message of this giving Jupiter in a Venus-ruled sign.

Neptune in mutable, water Pisces turned Retrograde @ 0degrees on 6/3/11. Almost two months after Neptune first entered Pisces, it makes its station retrograde and leaves Pisces on 8/4/11 to complete its cycle in the previous sign, Aquarius. Neptune returns to Pisces on 2/4/12 for the extent of its stay – until 3/31/25. So, we’ve had a taste of Neptune’s dissolving energies and the power of the water! Anyone with planets near 0deg. of any sign has been especially imprinted with Neptunian themes such as paranormal experiences, illumination about some life themes or experiences, and secrets leaking out, or even some funky illness. Neptune energies can also manifest as melancholy as we review dreams that may not have materialized, make necessary adjustments, all the while maintaining our faith in life, spirit and the meaning of it all.

Neptune entered mutable, water Pisces for the first time in 164 years on 4/4/11. Neptune turns Retrograde on @ 0deg. on 6/3/11 – Neptune returns to Aquarius on 8/4/11. Neptune re-enters Pisces for the duration of its 14 year cycle on 2/4/12. This planet’s sign change is the biggest news in April and has consequences for the next 14 years. Now we have the third outer planet making a sign change since January 2008, setting in motion a series of conditions and events that have global long-term effects. There is much to say about this momentous passage and we only get a taste this year, since Neptune will retrograde back to Aquarius from 8/4/11, through 2/4/12. Neptune is entering the modern rulership of its own sign Pisces and expresses itself quite naturally here according to its intrinsic nature. We can expect the need for greater sensitivity and environmental protections, as the harm we have done to the planet becomes more obvious. [And Gaia thinks seriously about giving us an eviction notice.] We may witness the formation of new religious groups and a reformation of existing religion as we know it. Secrets may be exposed and more leaks of information that some people may not wish to be revealed. On the positive side, new artistic accomplishments will flower in all fields, especially music, but all across the artistic spectrum. In essence it is a cultural call for greater refinement and attunement to what we often take for granted or fail to notice. 

 

Neptune was discovered in 1846, and entered Pisces on 4/26/1847 through 1861. Oddly enough, Uranus was also in Aries (although farther along in the sign) when Neptune entered Pisces for the first time (since its discovery). This is only the second time, after Neptune came into our consciousness awareness, that Neptune is transiting Pisces! Both Neptune and Pisces are tricky. They operate on a completely different level. Pisces is known for its hyper-sensitivity, compassion, diffusiveness, spirituality, dream-like imagination, second-sight, idealism, patronage of the arts, and the ability to dissolve barriers of all kinds for greater unity. Negative manifestation includes: dissipation, neglect, addictions, deception, drugs, theft, scandals, and secrets. Neptune leaves Pisces on 3/31, 2025. A few highlights of Neptune’s last transit through Pisces include: new social movements, such as Marxism, emancipation of slaves, the start of the US Civil War, the California Gold Rush, the Romantic movement in music, and transcendentalism. You can be sure we’ll be discussing Neptune’s amazing journey through Pisces in future issues of PW.

 

It’s not even a month since Neptune entered Pisces, which we have not experienced for 166 years! As we begin to integrate with this complex novel energy infusion, you may notice a greater sensitivity or subtlety. Neptune dissolves barriers and that is one of the reasons a positive Neptunian response often allows greater compassion for human error and human frailty. Neptune deals with the unseen and the unnoticed and often accounts for spiritual breakthroughs and even paranormal experiences. I believe that this transit of Neptune through Pisces will loosen the boundaries between the material realm and the spiritual or energetic realms. Many of us will experience more than can be easily explained through the measurable functions of science. This can be a time of high magic but also the stripping away of illusions and deceptions and unless one has a strong inner core, the disillusionment we find may destabilize us. Practice faith in the joy of being alive and the true mysticism of that fact alone, no matter what your religious beliefs may be. Neptune is magical and a component of magic is addiction, as we seek to recreate the transcendence of blissful states that allow us to escape the harsher realities of everyday life.

Uranus re-entered Aries on 3/11/11, and remains there until May 2018. This is the biggest news of March and beyond, and heralds a new upward spiral in social and cultural evolution. Last summer, Uranus teased us by parking itself and remaining only at 0deg. Aries (the powerful degree of the Spring Equinox) from 5/27-8/13/10. Now it really means business – it has engaged into its full cycle. Any planet in the first sign of the Zodiac wants to start a fire, begin something new, innovate, and create or reinvent something in its own image. This combination can certainly be aggressive, bold, courageous, willful, and because of the influence of Uranus, unexpected and explosive. Most of the previous text was written well before the popular uprisings (conflagrations) in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and other parts of the Middle East.  We are seeing the effects of individuals asserting themselves in their striving for personal freedoms that they believe are their birthright. Repressive regimes will no longer be tolerated. Aries represents the new and renewal – as it emerges from the dreams of the previous sign, Pisces. It burns with the fire of justice and courage to be free at any cost.

 

Saturn in cardinal, air Libra turned Stationary Retrograde (Rx) @ 17deg. on 1/26/11. Saturn remains Rx until 6/13/11. We’ve had our share of challenges, burdens and tasks, now haven’t we? When a planet makes a station, it is demanding that we recognize its energy and pay particular attention to the message it is transmitting in our lives. In general, Saturn in Libra addresses the questions of balance, fairness, relationships, negotiations, and compromise. With Saturn there is always some kind of evaluation, some testing of standards met or not, and have we achieved what we set out to do in the various areas of our life? If we feel we are out of balance, then we will want to rebalance, or renegotiate the contracts we’ve made. Saturn will be backtracking now, to refine those imbalances and to test the rebalancing that you’ve begun. What is it exactly that makes for harmony and contentment in your life? All Libras, Aries, Cancers and Capricorns are feeling this testing more – and this current retrograde segment affects those born between early to mid-April, July, October, and January. Ask your astrologer where and how this Station degree affects your chart.

 

Saturn entered cardinal, air Libra on 10/29/09. The full cycle lasts until 10/6/12. Saturn retrograded back into the last three degrees of the previous sign, Virgo, from 4/8/10-7/22/10. What can we expect? Let’s speak to the greater implications of this 2.5-year Saturn-sign cycle. Saturn is exalted in Libra. This so-called “essential dignity” means there’s more of a commitment to promote cooperation and harmony among equals. Or, we can say, that is the primary striving in this combination. The collective will be more focused on what is fair and equitable and what is not. Generally, the message is to find the imbalances and rebalance as needed. Where are you giving your commitment and attention? Are the returns you receive what you really want? If not, then adjust those commitments and relationships for greater equality and fairness. Saturn in Libra also asks – what matters and what is valuable? When there is real value, it is easier to make a commitment for a longer time and with greater attention and intention. All major relationships and, in particular, those with Libra/Aries Sun, Moon, or Ascendant, will be put to a greater test. Saturn in a cardinal sign is more proactive than in other signs, and you may find that you seek order from recent chaos and productivity from prior stress and mess. 

 

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Opinions and interpretation/analysis expressed are the sole intellectual property of Dorothy Oja. PW emerged from transcripts of a weekly radio show in 1996.

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MINDWORKS services include: Timing and Electional work (dates for surgery, weddings, business openings etc.), Composite/Davison Relationship and Couples analysis, Children's Profiles and private tutoring. Meta-Coaching sessions involve eliciting the astrological and sacred dynamics of your chart to empower realization of your goals and find satisfaction in self-expression. An active writer for national magazines and online sites, collections of Dorothy's articles are available upon request. Dorothy writes a weekly ezine, Planet Weather, published for the past 15 years for enthusiastic subscribers, which includes social, cultural and political commentary. She has frequently appeared as a guest on TV, hosted her own radio shows and has been interviewed in the print media. In October 2000, Dorothy published her text, Compatibility & Conflict for Romantic Relationships, as a computer interpretive report, followed by Compatibility & Conflict for Friendship and Business in October 2002. Her first book, Planetary Resonance was released in May 2012. Dorothy currently serves the community as Chair of the ISAR Ethics Committee including Ethics Awareness Training.