Planet Weather for the Week of July 15, 2007       

SkyWatch – Moon phase of the week: There is no change in Moon phase this week! This is one of those rare weeks (there are usually about 2-3 per year) when the Moon undergoes no major change. During her monthly cycle, the Moon passes through four major phases -- New, First Quarter, Full, and Last or Third Quarter. (She has four additional minor phases as well -- Crescent, Gibbous, Dissemenating, Balsamic -- but SkyWatch and most astrologers only track the four major ones.) Skywatching events of the week: 7/16 -- the Crescent Moon passes less than tenth of a degree South of Saturn about 5 PM EDT. However, even after sunset the Moon will still appear close to Saturn, while approaching both the bright astrological star Regulus (see the following Event) and brilliant Venus. On both this night and the following one, these four celestial luminaries will be close enough to make for a spectacular and unusual sight as they all set together in the West. They will still be gliding down the heavens in formation the following night, except that the Moon will now be somewhat higher in the sky relative to the star and two planets. 7/17 -- The Crescent Moon passes about a third of a degree North of Regulus in the constellation Leo at 11:01 AM EDT. While this is long after moonset for North America, the Moon will actually occult (pass in front of) Regulus as seen from parts of Europe, Asia and Australia. Space news of the week: Endeavor to fly at last! The Space Shuttle Endeavor was just rolled out on to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral after a hiatus of nearly five years since her last flight into orbit. Hopefully, in a couple of months, Endeavor's seven-person crew will carry more construction materials to the International Space Station. Skywatch will, ahem, endeavor to keep readers posted. 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, and Wednesday are the most active energetically and potentially most productive days (depending on what you’re doing!) On 7/16/07, the Moon is VOC/Leo from 11:55PM to 5:39AM EDT the next day! – On 7/19/07, VOC/Virgo from 9:44AM to 3:53PM 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.

 

Erratum: Mercury’s sojourn in cardinal, water Cancer began on 5/28/07 and ends on 8/4/07. (The end date was incorrect in last week’s issue)! The actual retrograde (Rx) cycle is sandwiched in between the above dates of Mercury’s travel in the sign Cancer. Mercury turned Rx on 6/15/07 @ 11 deg. Cancer. Mercury turned Stationary Direct in Cancer @ 2deg. on 7/9/07 @ 10:16PM EDT. Two thirds of this current Mercury Retrograde is now complete. The next phase retraces for a third time the degrees between 2 and 11 and then Mercury reaches its “shadow point” of 11 deg. on 7/24/07, the same degree at which it turned retrograde. Once past the shadow degree, resolution and conclusions are more likely reached about the issues and concerns that surfaced during this emotionally charged cycle of Mercury in the sensitive water sign, Cancer.

 

Mars in fixed, earth Taurus sextile (60deg.) Uranus in mutable, water Pisces @ 18deg. on 7/20/07. Mars in Taurus tends to take its time – it is productive and pragmatic, just not speedy. Uranus sends some lightening down to alert Mars and prepare him for what’s up ahead. The truth becomes more readily apparent about something you’ve been chasing down or otherwise pursuing. This awareness appears to be a good thing and keeps you from sinking deeper into any ruts or grooves you’ve immersed yourself in recently. Participate in something with pizzazz, or however you wish to describe it.

 

Venus entered mutable, earth Virgo on 7/14/07. Venus retrogrades in this sign on 7/27/07 and turns direct on 9/8/07. Venus gets “loopy.”  Well, what is meant is that every retrograde cycle is a loop and sends us into repetition for (hopefully) deeper understanding of a situation, circumstance, or, in the case of Venus – a relationship and our values. Retrogrades slow things down so that we can perceive the situation more closely and recognize any flaws or issues in our life situations that the retrograde makes more easily visible. Often something returns from the past to be revisited. I call retrogrades “cosmic pauses” due to the slowing down process they represent and the focus and emphasis of an area of the Zodiac that takes place. More on the Venus Rx in next week’s PW.

NewsBits: Harry Potter Reigns and Rocks! And so does Daniel Radcliffe, the young English actor who has played the young wizard Harry, lightening bolt scar on forehead and all, in movies for the past 7 years. Based on the books by J.K. Rowling, the saga of six books, the seventh (and supposedly last) poised to hit the streets later this month, has become wildly and widely popular. From being a student at Hogwarts School of Wizardry to battling the Dark Lord (Voldemort, who has it in for Harry), the bespectacled Harry (and so also Daniel Radcliffe) has become a hero for children and the young at heart. Let’s have a peek at Daniel’s birthchart. Perfectly for a young heroic figure, Radcliffe was born a Leo on 7/23, 1989 and Mercury, Mars and Venus also in lion-hearted Leo. According to a biography, Daniel knew he wanted to act when he was 5! His fresh bloom and direct look are due to the Moon in fiery Aries making a smooth trine to the Sun/Leo (basically, a well-adjusted personality). Jupiter in Gemini gives him versatility and excellent verbal skills. Daniel has had an impact playing the young and fearless wizard-in-training with a powerful legacy to fulfill. His Mars in Leo, which I like to call the “superman Mars,” certainly gives him the needed heart and charisma for the role. There are two more films to be made in the series and Daniel will continue to play the part of Harry. When J.K. Rowling, the author of the Potter series, saw Daniel’s screen test, she felt she had found a long lost son and thought he was simply perfect for the role. Interestingly, Rowling is also a Leo with Jupiter in Gemini, the same as Daniel, and Daniel’s Venus @ 29 Leo is exactly conjunct Rowling’s Mercury @ 29 Leo! There’s that wonderful astrological synchronicity at work again. In the last 2 years, both Daniel and Rowling have been experiencing the pressure of Saturn over their Sun sign and other Leo planets in their charts. It seems that all good stories must come to an end. Rowling claims the seventh is the last Potter book, and Daniel has just received rave reviews in his first adult role in the play Equus on the London stage.