Planet Weather for the Week of July 13, 2008

SkyWatch: Moon phase of the week: 7/18 -- The Moon reaches perfect fullness at 3:59 AM EDT, at 26 degrees of Capricorn where She is, astrologically, said to be "in detriment" because Capricorn is the sign opposite the sign of Her rulership, Cancer. In Native American traditions, this is the Buck Moon when young bucks of both species do, well, whatever it is young bucks do. Skywatching events of the week: 7/17 -- The nearly full Moon makes a close pass by Jupiter. Unfortunately, their point of closest approach occurs during the midmorning after both bodies have set. However, the Moon will be making a close approach to Jupiter in the early predawn hours, in the western sky, and this will be the best time for viewing the two together. Space news of the week: An external camera on board the International Space Station caught some spectacular shots of Hurricane Bertha last week from over 200 miles above the Atlantic. At the time, the hurricane was measuring winds of around 120 miles per hour as it approaches Bermuda with agonizing slowness. 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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Week of 7/13/08 – Monday (partially), Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the most active energetically and potentially very productive days – more Moon or planetary aspects for engagement and/or producing results. On 7/15/08, the Moon is VOC/Sagittarius @ 10:43PM to 12:20AM EDT (next day!) – On 7/18/08, the Moon is VOC/Capricorn from 3:59AM to 11:40AM 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 cardinal, water Cancer meets first Saturn/Virgo by sextile (60deg.) @ 5deg. on7/14/08, then Mars/Virgo by sextile @ 8deg. on7/15/08 and then Jupiter/Capricorn by opposition (180deg.) @ 16deg.  on7/19/08. The process goes something like this – Saturn seeks to organize the thoughts and create a plan to follow over the course of time. In this case, it also offers an opportunity to crystallize thoughts via expert information or an important communication with someone. Mars injects new ideas and wants to move things ahead. It’s initiation but on a very practical, problem-solving, quality-control way in the sign of Virgo. Jupiter expands but being that it’s in cautious Capricorn, it will expand slowly, methodically, and again with an eye toward a pragmatic outcome and an awareness of consequences. Still, the opposition and the Jupiter risk-factor may propel you into communication and conclusion before you are completely ready. This can be a good thing or not, depending on what you are involved with. Saturn sometimes drags its heels too long, and Jupiter often jumps the gun. So, the opposition can make for upsets, particularly if judgment is impaired. However, Jupiter, also being lucky, can provide some protection and open some doors previously closed. Being prepared will give you the best result from what is offered. There is also a timing factor involved when Moon and Saturn combine.

 

Sun in cardinal, water Cancer trine (120deg.) Uranus in mutable, water Pisces @ 22deg. on 7/14/08 @ 11:03AM EDT.  This aspect is the urge to be free and to live life on one’s own terms. The message is toward a wider perspective and higher consciousness that encompasses and allows for a wide range of expression. The combination both seeks and expresses multi-cultural understanding. In water signs, it allows for a wider range or even controversial emotional expression. Events in our life and family circle, or in the world, may shock us into greater awareness or truth. We contemplate the complexities of life and mine events for their true nature or meaning. We question how events and situations are handled by authority and we may question our own response to complex matters.

 

NewsBits: Michael DeBakey Dies at 99! Hearts everywhere owe a great debt to the lifelong work of Dr. Michael DeBakey who treated patients until his own death of natural causes on 7/11/08.  Michael DeBakey was a pioneer in cardiovascular and heart surgery, research and innovation, including Dacron arteries, arterial bypass operations, artificial hearts, heart pumps, and heart transplants. He was the first to perform a successful coronary artery bypass, and pioneered the development of the artificial heart. In addition, he developed Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (M.A.S.H.) which saved thousands of lives during the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts [and inspired a movie & TV series.] He also led the movement to establish the National Library of Medicine, now the largest and most prestigious medical archive in the US. The first thing I thought of when reading this man’s biography describing his intense career focus on the heart was that he had to have a significant placement in Leo or a prominent Sun. DeBakey was born on September 7, 1908, in Lake Charles, LA (time unknown).  Sure enough, his chart shows a potent Jupiter in Leo. The sign of Jupiter in the chart shows where a person has more of a particular type of experience, the qualities of experience that bring great happiness, or where one is willing to take more risk. DeBakey was certainly a perfect example of this placement. He developed more techniques to help ailing hearts than anyone else in the last century. His striving for mastery, with Saturn conjunct the Sun in Virgo, led him to develop the “roller pump,” an essential piece to the heart-lung machine while he was still a medical student at Tulane University and only 23 years old! DeBakey’s Mercury is well-placed by sign and at the critical degree of 29 Virgo, sextile Venus/Cancer and square Pluto/Gemini. His predilection for research is obvious with the intensity of Pluto connected to his Mercury, and his compassion and reputation as a Good Samaritan is widely recognized. He performed more than 60,000 cardiovascular procedures on heads of state, including Boris Yeltsin, as well as the very poor with the same dedication and precision. He has many honors to his name, among them, the highest a non-military US citizen can receive, the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction in 1969. His last award, earlier this year, was awarded by President George Bush and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi – the Congressional Gold Medal. DeBakey was born with Saturn in Aries and the Moon in Aquarius, positions that bring drive to reach or master a goal, typically on one’s own terms and in one’s own stalwart way. In February 2006, he became the oldest patient to undergo a heart procedure and one which he himself pioneered. Undergoing this procedure gave him a few more years of life. He almost made it to 100! Many people owe DeBakey longer life. He was a dedicated man who loved humanity.